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A Lost Leader by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim
page 81 of 329 (24%)
the Carlton this evening," she announced. "Why on earth are you looking
at me like that, child? You're always grumbling that my friends are a
fast lot, and don't suit you. You can't say anything against Sir Leslie."

The girl had risen to her feet. The trouble in her face was manifest.

"Mother," she said, slowly, "I wish that you were not going. I wish that
you would have nothing whatever to do with Sir Leslie Borrowdean."

"Good Heavens!--and why not?" the woman exclaimed, suddenly sitting up.

"I believe that he only asked you because he has an idea that you can
tell him--something he wants to know about Mr. Mannering," the girl
answered, steadily. "I don't think that you ought to go!"

"Rubbish!" her mother answered, crossly. "I don't believe that he has
such an idea in his head. As though he couldn't ask me for the sake of my
company. And if he does ask me questions, I'm not obliged to answer them,
am I? Do you think that I'm to be turned inside out like a schoolgirl?"

"Sir Leslie is very clever, and he is very unscrupulous," the girl
answered. "I wish you weren't going! I believe that he wants to find out
things."

Mrs. Phillimore frowned uneasily.

"I'm not a fool!" she said. "He's welcome to all he can get to know
through me. I don't know what you want to try to make me uncomfortable
for, Hester, I'm sure. Sir Leslie has never betrayed the least curiosity
about Mr. Mannering, and I don't believe that he's any such idea in his
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