Page:The Reverberator (2nd edition, American issue, London and New York, Macmillan & Co., 1888).djvu/82

72 to her; he argued with her; he besought her to think it over, assured her he was the best fellow in the world. To this she replied that if he didn't leave her alone she would cry—and how would he like that, to bring her back in such a state to the others? He said, "Damn the others!" but that did not help his case, and at last he broke out: "Will you just tell me this, then—is it because you've promised Miss Delia?" Francie answered that she had not promised Miss Delia anything, and her companion went on: "Of course I know what she has got in her head: she wants to get you into the high set—the grand monde, as they call it here; but I didn't suppose you'd let her fix your life for you. You were very different before he turned up."

"She never fixed anything for me. I haven't got any life and I don't want to have," said Francie. "And I don't know who you are talking about, either!"

"The man without a country. He'll pass you in—that's what your sister wants."

"You oughtn't to abuse him, because it was you that presented him," the girl rejoined.

"I never presented him! I'd like to kick him."

"We should never have seen him if it hadn't been for you."

"That's a fact, but it doesn't make me love him any the better. He's the poorest kind there is."