United States or Tonga ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Engaged? Mercy, yes! Didn't you know? To the Prince of Wales. I broke it off because I wouldn't live in the Tower." Mrs. Spragg, lifting the dress cautiously over her arm, advanced with a reassured smile. "I s'pose Undie'll go to Europe now," she said to Mrs. Heeny. "I guess Undie WILL!" the young lady herself declared. "We're going to sail right afterward.
And he did say also, relating to Commissioner Pett, that he did not think that he was guilty of anything like a fault, that he was either able or concerned to amend, but only the not carrying up of the ships higher, he meant; but he said, three or four miles lower down, to Rochester Bridge, which is a strange piece of ignorance in a Member of Parliament at such a time as this, and after so many examinations in the house of this business; and did boldly declare that he did think the fault to lie in my Lord Middleton, who had the power of the place, to secure the boats that were made ready by Pett, and to do anything that he thought fit, and was much, though not altogether in the right, for Spragg, that commanded the river, ought rather to be charged with the want of the boats and the placing of them.
Spragg shrank back, she added more mildly, in the tone of a parent rebuking a persistent child: "It's enough to MAKE anybody sick to be stared at that way!" Mrs. Spragg overflowed with compunction. "I'm so sorry, Undie. I guess it was just seeing you in this glare of light." "Yes the light's awful; do turn some off," ordered Undine, for whom, ordinarily, no radiance was too strong; and Mrs.
He leaned over to give Marvell's hand the ironic grasp of celibacy. "Well, you've left us lamenting: he has, you know. Miss Spragg. But I've got one pull over the others I can paint you! He can't forbid that, can he? Not before marriage, anyhow!" Undine divided her shining glances between the two. "I guess he isn't going to treat me any different afterward," she proclaimed with joyous defiance.
De Ruyter bearing down with his fleet in three squadrons prepared to attack the Prince himself, while Tromp engaged Spragg and the Blue Squadron, the English admiral having, contrary to the express orders of Prince Rupert, laid his fore-topsail to the mast in order to stay for him.
It was the first time since her return to New York that she had put on a low dress and thus uncovered the string of pearls she always wore. She made no answer, and Mr. Spragg continued: "Did your husband give them to you?" "RALPH!" She could not restrain a laugh. "Who did, then?" Undine remained silent.
Spragg listened to this with the suffering air of a teacher compelled to simplify upon his simplest questions. "Any personal obligation, I meant. Had the other fellow done him a good turn any time?" "No I don't imagine them to have had any previous relations at all." His father-in-law stared. "Where's your trouble, then?" He sat for a moment frowning at the embers.
Spragg murmured: "She never HAS, Abner," but Mr. Spragg's brow remained unrelenting. "Do you know what a box costs?" "No; but I s'pose you do," Undine returned with unconscious flippancy. "I do. That's the trouble. WHY won't seats do you?" "Mabel could buy seats for herself." "That's so," interpolated Mrs. Spragg always the first to succumb to her daughter's arguments.
The case had been decided in her favour, and she had thereupon demanded, and obtained, an allowance of five thousand dollars, to be devoted to the bringing up and education of her son. This sum, added to what Mr. Spragg had agreed to give her, made up an income which had appreciably bettered her position, and justified Madame de Trezac's discreet allusions to her wealth.
Spragg, relapsing from temerity to meekness, hovered about her with obstructive zeal. "If you'd only just let go of my skirt, mother I can unhook it twice as quick myself." Mrs. Spragg drew back, understanding that her presence was no longer wanted.
Word Of The Day