Page 199 (1/2)

The suddenness of it was like a blow Lloyd Pryor actually gasped; his

presence of mind so entirely deserted him, that before he knew it, he

had lied--and no one knew better than Lloyd Pryor that it is a mistake

to lie hurriedly

"I--I don't know! Never heard of either of theave him a surprised

look "But I'm told you stay at Mrs Richie's house, in Old Chester,"

she said laughing

"What are you talking about!"

"Why, father," she said blankly; his irritation was very

disconcerting

"I tell you I never heard of such a person!" he repeated sharply; and

then realized what he had done "Darily; and he began to try to get out of it: "Old

Chester? Oh, yes; I do remember It's somewhere near Mercer, I

believe But I never went there in my life" Then he added in his own

ain! What the devil has happened?

Who has told her?" Aloud, he asked where she had heard of Old Chester

She began to tell him about a little boy, who said--"it was too

funny!" she interrupted herself, s--"who said that you were

'Mrs Richie's brother,' and you stayed at her house in Old Chester,

and--"

"Perfect nonsense!" he broke in "He mistook reed, laughing; upon which Mr Pryor changed

the subject by saying that he must look over some papers "Don't talk

now, dear," he said

Alice subsided into her novel; but after a while she put the book

down No; the little boy had not mistaken him for somebody else; "he's