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Reade, Charles, 1814-1884

"A Woman-Hater"

I kept too tight a rein on him, poor fellow!
My good mother taught me prudence."
"Yes, but," said Ashmead, "you must promise me one thing: not to let him
know how much money you have won, and not to go, like a goose, and give
him a lot at once. It never pays to part with power in this wicked world.
You give him twenty pounds a day to play with whenever he is cleaned out.
Then the money will last your time, and he will never leave you."
"Oh, how cold-hearted and wise you are!" said she. "But such a
humiliating position for _him!"_
"Don't you be silly. You won't keep him any other way."
"I will be as wise as I can," sighed Ina. "I have had a bitter lesson.
Only bring him to me, and then, who knows? I am a change: my love may
revive his, and none of these pitiable precautions may be needed. They
would lower us both."
Ashmead groaned aloud. "I see," said he. "He'll soon clean you out. Ah,
well! he can't rob you of your voice, and he can't rob you of your
Ashmead."
They soon reached Frankfort. Ashmead put her into a carriage as agreed,
and went to the Russie.
Ina sat, with her veil down, in the carriage, and waited Ashmead's return
with Severne.


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