In short, we are nothing but impostors, both of us."
He spoke savagely, and turned to re-enter his dressing-room, in the door
of which Bessie stood, with her great blue eyes fixed wonderingly and
sadly upon him. She had heard all the conversation, and there was a
troubled look on her face, as she said:
"What is an impostor, papa? What does it mean?"
"It means," he answered, "that we impose upon people every hour of our
lives, passing ourselves off for what we are not. People suppose we have
money, when we haven't a shilling to spare, and owe everybody besides."
"I see; it means we are shams, and not real," Bessie said, and her
bright face was overclouded with an expression pitiful to see in one so
young.
This was the McPhersons' first day at Penrhyn Park, but the little
passage at arms did not at all dim Daisy's sky. Something would turn up,
she knew; and at dinner something did turn up, for Mrs. Smithers
mentioned to Archie that her husband had fallen in with the young Irish
lord who had been for a day or two at the pension in Florence, and,
remembering how intimate he was with Mr.
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