Page:The Reverberator (2nd edition, American issue, London and New York, Macmillan & Co., 1888).djvu/222

212 think Francie might come in. I wrote to her that I wanted particularly to see her."

"I will go and call her—I'll make her come," said Delia, going out. She left her companions together and Gaston returned to the subject of Mr. Munster, Mr. Dosson's former partner, to whom he had taken a letter and who had shown him every sort of civility. Mr. Dosson was pleased at this; nevertheless he broke out, suddenly—

"Look here, you know; if you've got anything to say that you don't think very acceptable you had better say it to me." Gaston coloured, but his reply was checked by Delia's quick return. She announced that her sister would be obliged if he would go into the little dining-room—he would find her there. She had something to communicate to him that she could mention only in private. It was very comfortable; there was a lamp and a fire. "Well, I guess she can take care of herself!" Mr. Dosson, at this, commented, laughing. "What does she want to say to him? " he demanded, when Gaston had passed out.

"Gracious knows! She won't tell me. But it's too flat, at his age, to live in such terror."

"In such terror?"

"Why, of your father. You've got to choose."

"How, to choose?"

"Why, if there's a person you like and he doesn't like."