FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118  
119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   >>   >|  
laying about, it wouldn't hurt her; but the Dinnetts are different. However, you know a great deal more about her than I do, and if you tell me she's not all she seems and you're not the first and won't be the last, then, of course I'm wrong and enough said. But if she's all right and all she's thought to be, and all Estelle thinks her--for Estelle's a jolly good student of character--then, frankly, I don't think it's sporting of you to do what you're doing." The word 'sporting' summed the situation from Waldron's point of view and he said no more. Raymond grew milder. "She's all Estelle thinks her. I have a great admiration for her. She's amazingly clever and refined. In fact, I never saw any girl a patch on her in my life." "Well then, what follows? Surely she ought to be respected in every way." "I do respect her." "Then it's up to you to treat her as you'd treat anybody of your own class, and take care that nothing you do throws any shadow on her. And, of course, you know it. I'm not suggesting for a second you don't. I'm only suggesting that what would be quite all right with a girl in your own set, isn't exactly fair to Sabina--her position in the world being what it is." It was on Raymond's tongue to declare his engagement; but he did not. He had banished Sabina for that night and the subject irked him. The justice of Waldron's criticism also irked him; but he acknowledged it. "Thank you," he answered. "It's jolly good of you to say these things, Arthur, because they're not in your line, and I know you hate them. But you're dead right. I dare say I'll tell you something that will astonish you before long. But I'm not doing anything to be ashamed of. I haven't made any mistake; and if I had, I shouldn't shirk the payment." "You can't, my dear chap. A mistake has always got to be paid for in full--often with interest added. As a sportsman you know that, and it holds all through life in my experience." "I shan't make one. But if I do, I'm quite prepared to pay the cost." "We all say that till the bill comes along. Better avoid the mistake, and I'm glad you're going to." Far away from the scrub on North Hill came a sharp, weird sound. "Hark!" said Waldron. "That's a dog fox! I hope the beggar's caught a rabbit." CHAPTER XV A VISIT TO MISS IRONSYDE On the following day Raymond did not appear at breakfast, and Estelle wondered at so strange an event. "He's going for a lon
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118  
119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Estelle
 

Waldron

 

mistake

 
Raymond
 
suggesting
 
Sabina
 

thinks

 

sporting

 

interest

 

prepared


experience
 
sportsman
 

wouldn

 

ashamed

 

astonish

 

shouldn

 

payment

 

IRONSYDE

 

beggar

 

caught


rabbit
 

CHAPTER

 

strange

 
wondered
 

laying

 
breakfast
 
Better
 

Surely

 

respected

 

thought


respect

 

character

 
frankly
 
situation
 

summed

 
student
 

refined

 

clever

 

amazingly

 

milder


admiration

 

banished

 
subject
 

However

 
declare
 
engagement
 

justice

 

Dinnetts

 
things
 

Arthur