Part 1 (1/2)

Blind Policy

by George Manville Fenn

CHAPTER ONE

IN RAYBECK SQUARE

”Oh, you wicked old woman! Ah, you dare to cry, and I'll send you to bed”

”No, no, auntie, don't, please What will dear Isabel think? You're not going to spoil a delightful evening?”

”Of course she is not Here, old lady; have another glass of claret-- ave his sister and the visitor a merry look, took the claret to the head of the table and refilled his own glass

But the lady shook her grey sausage curls slowly, and elaborately began to unfold a large bordered pocket-handkerchief, puckered up her pluht, bent her head over to her char niece on the left, and then proceeded to up a few tears

”No, no, no, Fred; not a drop more It only makes me worse; I can't help it, my love”

”Yes, you can, old lady Come, try and stop it You'll make Bel cry too”

”I wish she would, Fred, and repent before it's too late”

”What!” cried the doctor

”Don't shout at me, my dear I want to see her repent It's very nice to see the carriages co, and to knohat a famous doctor you are; but you don't understand my complaint, Fred”

”Oh yes, I do, old lady Grumps, eh, Laury?”

”No, no, ht of Isabel Lee, here, co recklessly on the very brink of such a precipice, is too an to fall fast, and the two girls rose from their seats si? Precipice?” cried the young doctor ”Step back, Bel dear; you shouldn't Auntie, what do you e,” wailed the old lady

”Fudge?” cried the doctor ”Here, take your lass You've poisoned that one with salt water”

”I haven't, Fred”

”You have, reat drops fall in--plop Corapes to take after it”

”No, no, no!” cried the old lady, protesting ”Don't, Laury;” but her niece held the glass to her lips till she gulped the claret down, and it lances with the doctor