Then you know the story, do you, Yardsley? It's horrible,
and you are innocent. My! you are a mind-reader with a vengeance.
Dorothy. Don't mind what these gentlemen say, Jennie, but go on.
[Yardsley sinks into the arm-chair. Barlow chuckles; Miss Andrews
glances indignantly at him.
Dorothy. Pardon me, Mr. Barlow. If there is any humor in the
situation, I fail to see it.
Barlow (seeing his error). Nor, indeed, do I. I was not--ah--
laughing from mirth. That chuckle was hysterics, Miss Dorothy, I
assure you. There are some laughs that can hardly be differentiated
from sobs.
Jennie. I was all took in a heap, mum, to think of a fine gentleman
like Mr. Yardsley proposing to me, mum, and I says the same. Says I,
"Oh, Mr. Yardsley, this is so suddent like," whereat he looks up with
a countenance so full o' pain that I hadn't the heart to refuse him;
so, fergettin' Hicks for the moment, I says, kind of soft like,
certingly, sir. It ain't for the likes o' me to say no to the likes
o' him.
Yardsley. Then you said you were engaged to Hicks. You know you
did, Jennie.
Barlow.
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