The Land Claim — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

60 7 THE LAND-CLAIM. _ “You are young enough to be a pupil instead of teacher, my dear young lady.” “ Oh, yes, and ignorant enough, that is true,” she answered, with a little sigh. “®h, no; no, indeed! not ignorant for your age. On the contrary, you are so very remarkably intelligent and refined for—for a young person like yourself, that you captivate us all. But I was thinking how much better it would be for you to go to school in some city for a year or two more, instead of _drudging at school-teaching in the country. Would you not like it ?” 0 “Tf it were possible,” said Alicia, “I should like it very much.” » a . ai) & “ What if I should make it possible for you?” asked Mr. Mauvais, eagerly watching her expression. ‘ »“ You,’ Mr: Mauvais?” she exclaimed, blushing with sur- prise. _“ Certainly,” he replied. “‘ There is no reason why I should not please myself by being an aid to a charming little girl, if I choose; that is, if she consents.” - “Jado not know about it, Mr. Mauvais; I can not decide such a question for myself; at least, not. without consulting my friends. But I do not think my father would like to ineur such’an obligation” = = “ You still consult your father, then, though he is so unfor- giving?” he asked, gazing at her admiringly. “But sup- posing that I get him to consent to allow me a sort of guardianship over you, what other friends would you wish to “I should like to ask. Mrs, Wyman’s opinion; and Mr. Allen’s too,” she added, hesitatingly. “Tt is my turn to be surprised, Miss Newcome. I did not know that young ladies were bound to ask the opinions of young gentlemen of twenty-three or four on affairs of this sort. Is Mr. Allen's judgment, then, so much more mature than mine ?” The half-bantering, halfreproving tone assumed by her companion quite put the young girl out of countenance. _ He has been so kind to me,” was all she could say. “I would like to be kind to you, too, if you would allow Commicloooks.conn