Page:The Reverberator (2nd edition, American issue, London and New York, Macmillan & Co., 1888).djvu/180

170 . "Will you please tell? I've been perfectly wild! Yes you have, you dreadful—!" the elder girl declared, kissing her on the eyes. They opened at this compassionate pressure and Francie rested them in their beautiful distress on her father, who had now risen to his feet and stood with his back to the fire.

"Why, daughter," said Mr. Dosson, "you look as if you had had quite a worry."

"I told you I should—I told you, I told you!" Francie broke out, with a trembling voice. "And now it's come!"

"You don't mean to say you've done anything?" cried Delia, very white.

"It's all over—it's all over!" Francie pursued, turning her eyes to her sister.

"Are you crazy. Francie?" this young lady asked. "I'm sure you look as if you were."

"Ain't you going to be married, my child?" asked Mr. Dosson, benevolently, coming nearer to her.

Francie sprang up, releasing herself from her sister, and threw her arms around him. "Will you take me away, father—will you take me right away?"

"Of course I will, my precious. I'll take you anywhere. I don't want anything—it wasn't my idea!" And Mr. Dosson and Delia looked at each other while the girl pressed her face upon his shoulder.