The Project Gutenberg EBook of Blind Policy, by George Manville Fenn

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Title: Blind Policy

Author: George Manville Fenn

Release Date: June 18, 2010 [EBook #32881]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLIND POLICY ***

Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England

Blind Policy, by George Manville Fenn.

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BLIND POLICY, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN.

CHAPTER ONE.

IN RAYBECK SQUARE.

"Oh, you wicked old woman! Ah, you dare to cry, and I'll send you to
bed."

"No, no, auntie, don't, please. What will dear Isabel think? You're
not going to spoil a delightful evening?"

"Of course she is not. Here, old lady; have another glass of claret--
medicinally."

Dr Chester jumped up, gave his sister and the visitor a merry look,
took the claret to the head of the table and refilled his own glass.

But the lady shook her grey sausage curls slowly, and elaborately began
to unfold a large bordered pocket-handkerchief, puckered up her plump
countenance, gazed piteously at the sweet face on her right, bent her
head over to her charming niece on the left, and then proceeded to up a
few tears.

"No, no, no, Fred; not a drop more. It only makes me worse; I can't
help it, my love."

"Yes, you can, old lady. Come, try and stop it. You'll make Bel cry
too."

"I wish she would, Fred, and repent before it's too late."

"What!" cried the doctor.

"Don't shout at me, my dear. I want to see her repent. It's very nice
to see the carriages come trooping, and to know what a famous doctor you
are; but you don't understand my complaint, Fred."

"Oh yes, I do, old lady. Grumps, eh, Laury?"

"No, no, my dear. It's heart. I've suffered too much, and the sight of
Isabel Lee, here, coming and playing recklessly on the very brink of
such a precipice, is too much for me."

The tears now began to fall fast, and the two girls rose from their
seats simultaneously to try and comfort the sufferer.

"Playing? Precipice?" cried the young doctor. "Step back, Bel dea