Roxy Hastings — page 131: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

122 ROXY HASTINGS. make him his heir; or, if not, why a little, even, of his reputed vast fortune, would make them happy, not be- cause they wanted money—-they could get along without that—but because it would reconcile her father to their union. That Mr. Burr meant something very benevolent and generous, she became daily more confident; and when he said to her, one evening, with a constrained smile (ap- proaching his subject indirectly), “ You are old enough to be married, Loo,” she replied, very innocently, “ Yes, sir.” This was being rather forward, he thought. No one fully values fruit which drops into his hands without even a shake of the tree. Still his errand was to be done. “So you have thought about it, have you?” he asked. “Oh, yes, sir.” ' “How long, now, Loo—how long?” he asked, coming a little nearer. “Oh, a good while, sir; I thought you knew about it.” She saw benignity beaming from the good man’s face, and she resolved to speak without reserve. “T didn’t know, Loo—I didn’t know; I only hoped it was so. I have watched you, and I thought I could not be mistaken. But Iam glad to hear you avow it.” “You are very kind, sir, to take so much interest in me.” “Kind? Who would not be kind to so sweet a creature ?” Burr was about taking Lucy’s hand at this juncture, but his dignity got in his way, and he resolved he would have no nonsense about his declaration. It was not necessary, when the lady thus met him more than half way. “But you know, I presume,” she replied, “all the—the difficulty—” ‘Difficulty? No, there shall be no difficulty, Lucy. Tl see to all that. Indeed, I may say I have seen to it.” “Oh, how shall I thank you, sir? My father has said nothing to me about this. He who was so—” . ‘No, he left that pleasure to me, dear girl.” ‘‘T am sure I shall never forget your goodness, Mr. Burr, and I shall hasten to thank papa for his kindness. May I ask how you effected this change in his sentiments ?” “Change? There has been no change. He never ob- jected—” “Oh, you mistake, sir. Papa did object, and he resisted all my importunities—” “ Your importunities, Loo?” exclaimed the lover, now a little puzzled. ‘“ What—what do you mean? Surely you comicbooks.com™