The Man from Home by Booth Tarkington;Harry Leon Wilson
page 46 of 153 (30%)
page 46 of 153 (30%)
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HORACE. I happen to have been born in the States.
PIKE [amiably]. Well, that _was_ luck! HORACE [turning as if to go]. Will you kindly excuse me? PIKE. Hold on a minute! I'm looking for some Americans here, and I expect you know 'em--boy and girl named Simpson. HORACE. Is there any possibility that you mean Granger-Simpson? [His tone is both alarmed and truculent.] PIKE [much pleased]. No, sir; just plain Simpson. Granger's their middle name. That's for old Jed Granger, grandfather on their ma's side. [He pronounces "ma" with the broad Hoosier accent--"maw."] I want to see 'em both, but it's the girl I'm rilly looking for. HORACE [trembling, but speaking even more haughtily]. Will you be good enough to state any possible reason why Miss Granger-Simpson should see you? PIKE [in profound surprise, yet mildly]. Reason--why, yes--I'm her guardian. [ETHEL lifts her hand to her forehead as if dizzy. MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY puts an arm around her. ETHEL recovers herself and stands rigidly, staring at PIKE.] |
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