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The Fortunate Youth by William John Locke
page 146 of 395 (36%)
the many-sided genius of her paragon.

"When you get well you must help us. There's an infinite amount to
be done."

"I shall be delighted," said Paul politely.

"You'll find I'm a terrible person to deal with when once I've laid
my hands on anybody," she said with a smile. "I drag in all kinds of
people, and they can't escape. I sent young Harry Gostling--Lord
Ruthmere's son, you know--to look into a working girls' club in
the Isle of Dogs that was going wrong. He hated it at first, but now
he's as keen as possible. And you'll be keen too."

It was flattering to be classified with leisured and opulent young
Guardsmen; but what, Paul reflected with a qualm, would the kind
lady say if she learned the real state of his present fortunes? He
thought of the guinea that lay between him and starvation, and was
amused by the irony of her proposition. Miss Winwood evidently took
it for granted that he was in easy circumstances, living on the
patrimony administered during his boyhood by a careless guardian. He
shrank from undeceiving her. His dream was beginning to come true.
He was accepted by one of the high caste as belonging to the world
where princes and princesses dwelt serene. If only he could put the
theatre behind him, as he had put the rest, and make a
stepping-stone of his dead actor self! But that was impossible, or
at least the question would have to be fought out between himself
and fortune after he had left Drane's Court. In the meanwhile he
glowed with the ambition to leave it in his newly acquired
splendour, drums beating, banners flying, the young prince returning
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