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Reade, Charles, 1814-1884

"A Woman-Hater"

Miss Maitland had been a
long time in the land of Nod; and Vizard, from the first, had preferred
male companions and tobacco.
At Cologne they visited the pride of Germany, that mighty cathedral which
the Middle Ages projected, commenced, and left to decay of old age before
completion, and our enterprising age will finish; but they departed on
the same day.
Before they reached England, the love-making between Severne and Zoe,
though it never passed the bounds of good taste, was so apparent to any
female eye that Miss Maitland remonstrated severely with Fanny.
But the trimmer was now won to the other side. She would not offend Aunt
Maitland by owning her conversion. She said, hypocritically, "I am afraid
it is no use objecting at present, aunt. The attachment is too strong on
both sides. And, whether he is poor or not, he has sacrificed his money
to her feelings, and so, now, she feels bound in honor. I know her; she
won't listen to a word now, aunt: why irritate her? She would quarrel
with both of us in a moment."
"Poor girl!" said Miss Maitland; and took the hint. She had still an
arrow in her quiver--Vizard.
In mid-channel, ten miles south of Dover, she caught him in a lucid
interval of non-smoke.


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