[Trumps by George William Curtis]@TWC D-Link bookTrumps CHAPTER XXXVIII 5/10
What fools women are! And Fanny, whom I always thought so entirely able to take care of herself, turns out to be the greatest fool of all! This fellow's a booby, I believe, Mrs.Newt.I think I have heard even you make fun of him.
But to be poor, too! To run away with a pauper-booby, by Heavens, it's too absurd!" Mr.Newt laughed mockingly, while the tears flowed fast from the eyes of his wife, who said at intervals, "I vow," and "I declare," with such utter weakness of tone and movement that her husband suddenly exclaimed, in an exasperated tone, "Nancy, if you don't stop rocking your body in that inane way, and shaking your hand and your handkerchief, and saying those imbecile things, I shall go mad.
I suppose this is the kind of sympathy a man gets from a woman in his misfortunes!" May Newt looked shocked and indignant.
"Mother, I am sorry for poor Fanny," said she. She said it quietly and tenderly, and without the remotest reference in look, or tone, or gesture to her father. He turned toward her suddenly. "Hold your tongue, Miss!" "Mamma, I shall go and see Fanny to-day," May continued, as if her father had not spoken.
Her mother looked frightened, and turned to her deprecatingly with a look that said, "For Heaven's sake, don't!" Her father regarded her for a moment in amazement. "What do you mean, you little vixen? Let me catch you disobeying me and going to see that ungrateful wicked girl, if you think fit!" There was a moment in which May Newt turned pale, but she said, in a very low voice, "I must go." "May, I forbid your going," said Mr.Newt, severely and loudly. "Father, you have no right to forbid me." "I forbid your going," roared her father, planting himself in front of her, and quite white with wrath. May said no more. "A pretty family you have brought up, Mrs.Nancy Newt," said he, at length, looking at his wife with all the contempt which his voice expressed.
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