第542章 MR. MARMADUKE AND THE MINISTER.(41)

Surely you can put it off?" No; impossible to put it off. "Is it a ball, or a party of some kind?" No answer; he changed the subjec t--he offered Felicia the money repaid to him for the bracelet. "Buy one for yourself, my dear, this time." Felicia handed him back the money, rather too haughtily, perhaps. "Idon't want a bracelet," she said; "I want your company in the evening."He jumped up, good-tempered as he was, in something very like a rage--then looked at me, and checked himself on the point (as Ibelieve) of using profane language. "This is downright persecution!" he burst out, with an angry turn of his head toward his wife. Felicia got up, in her turn. "Your language is an insult to my father and to me!" He looked thoroughly staggered at this: it was evidently their first serious quarrel.