A Social Meteor — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

A SOCIAL METEOR. 45 admire at a distance without coveting; to be able to look and not to touch.” Mrs. Thorne sprang up suddenly, with an en- ergy quite unusual to her. ‘Well, as true as I live!” she exclaimed. “Ido believe you are falling in love with her.” “T assure you, Ray, you were never more mis- taken in your life. J——” She interrupted him by placing both hands on his shoulders and forcing him to meet her merry eyes. “Look here, Lee,” she said, “remember how many years I’ve had the pleasure of your ac- quaintance—how often you’ve confided in me before now; tell me whether I haven’t always advised you to the best of my ability, and then answer one question. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself for trying to deceive me with a wicked fib like that? Pshaw! I thought you had more principle.” ‘At least give me credit for a little sense, Ray,” retorted Lee, almost angrily. “Am I, do you think, the sort of man to succumb to any woman, after seeing her only a dozen times? I like and admire Miss Wheatly immensely, I acknowledge, (Eo) Gomicbooks