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42 “ WILD MARGARET. -
‘The earl frowned... | es os
-“ And yet they were important ones—especially those -
which referred to your future, Blair. We have not seen -
much of each other—perhaps wisely——" st.
‘IT dare say,” said Lord Blair, cheerfully. ‘‘ People who
. ean’t agree are better apart, sir.”
‘‘But,’’ continued the earl grimly, and not relishing the
- interruption, ‘‘ but I would wish you to believe that [have |;
your best interests at heart.” | -
‘Thank you, sir.. I will take another glass of port.”
‘* And in no surer way can these interests be promoted .
than by your marriage with Violet Graham.”’
Lord Blair frowned slightly, then he smiled. :
‘**Pon my word, sir, I’m sorry to refuse you anything, .
especially after all your liberality; but it isn’t to be .
done.” | . - ae
‘“Why not?’ demanded the earl coldly.
Lord Blair hesitated, then he laughed grimly.” .
‘Well, I suppose we can’t hit: it off; we don’t care for |
each other.”’ to ;
The earl frowned. oe
-T have every reason 1o believe that Violet would be
willing——” so fy
‘* Oh, it’s alla mistake, sir!’ broke in Lord Blair quickly.
‘‘Nothing of the kind! Violet doesn’t care a straw for
me! ‘And as to,breaking her heart, as you said this after-
noon, why ’’—he laughed—“ she’s the last girl in the world
for that sort of thing! No, we thought we could manage
it, but we found pretty soon that it wouldn’t work, an
so—and so—well, we just broke it-off?’
“TY can understand!’ said the earl, grimly. ‘‘ You
Vt
_.- wearied her with your dissipation, and stung her by your
neglect.”
Lord Blair flushed. or Ce
_:‘*Put it so, if you like, sir,” he said, thinking what 4 |
‘, good thing it was that they did not see much of each other.
i-~ “And so lost the chance of restoring your ruined for-
__ tunes,”’ said the earl. . ‘‘ Violet’s fortune is a large one.
_. / “am one of the trustees, and can speak with authority. It
is large’ enough to repair all the mischief your wild, spend-
thrift course has produced. And you have fost, not only:
the means of your salvation, but one of the best girls 12>
England. Great Heaven ’’—he spoke quite quietly —‘* how:
can a man be so great a fool,and so blind!”
At another time the young man might have retorted,
but he had had a good dinner and two glasses of the won-
derful port, and so he only laughed. a
‘f
_* - “Tsuppose I am a fool, sir,” he said good-temperedly. A