Prev | Current Page 365 | Next

Reade, Charles, 1814-1884

"A Woman-Hater"

"
"You have not got one, I'm afraid," said Zoe, "or you would not put him
last."
"Why not? when he is of the last importance," said Fanny, flippantly, and
turned the laugh her way.
They strolled through the village together, but in the grounds of Vizard
Court Fanny fairly gave them the slip. Severne saw his chance, and said,
tenderly, "Did you hear what she said about a large house being best for
lovers?"
"Yes, I heard her," said Zoe, defensively; "but very likely she did not
mean it. That young lady's words are air. She will say one thing one day
and another the next."
"I don't know. There is one thing every young lady's mind is made up
about, and that is, whether it is to be love or money."
"She was for both, if I remember," said Zoe, still coldly.
"Because she is not in love."
"Well, I really believe she is not--for once."
"There, you see. She is in an unnatural condition."
"For her, very."
"So she is no judge. No; I should prefer Marks's cottage. The smaller the
better; because then the woman I love could not ever be far from me."
He lowered his voice, and drove the insidious words into her tender
bosom.


Pages:
353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377