'If pa knew I did this, he'd expire with horror,' she said, sagely
nodding her head.
'Wouldn't be much loss if he did,' replied Vandeloup, lazily,
glancing at her pretty face from under his eyelashes; 'your father
has a great many faults, dear.'
'Oh, "The Elect" think him perfect,' said Kitty, wisely.
'From their point of view, perhaps he is,' returned Gaston, with a
faint sneer; 'but he's not a man given to exuberant mirth.'
'Well, he is rather dismal,' assented Kitty, doubtfully.
'Wouldn't you like to leave him and lead a jollier life?' asked
Vandeloup, artfully, 'in Melbourne, for instance.'
Kitty looked at him half afraid.
'I--I don't know,' she faltered, looking down.
'But I do, Bebe,' whispered Gaston, putting his arm round her waist;
'you would like to come with me.'
'Why? Are you going?' cried Kitty, in dismay.
Vandeloup nodded.
'I think I spoke about this before,' he said, idly brushing some
cigarette ash off his waistcoat.
'Yes,' returned Kitty, 'but I thought you did not mean it.'
'I never say anything I do not mean,' answered Vandeloup, with the
ready lie on his lips in a moment; 'and I have got letters from
France with money, so I am going to leave the Pactolus.'
'And me?' said Kitty, tearfully.
'That depends upon yourself, Bebe,' he said rapidly, pressing her
burning cheek against his own; 'your father would never consent to
my marriage, and I can't take you away from Ballarat without
suspicions, so--'
'Yes?' said Kitty, eagerly, looking at him.
Pages:
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204