The Moth and the Candle (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1869 Excerpt: ...said Lucy, blushing: "who cares for me, I wonder?" "I'll tell you, then, just to serve you out for saying I talked nonsense. Do you remember "double H," as you used to call him? By-by --be sure and be ready by twelve." And so, with an affected careless good-nature of manner, Miss Damer left the house, saying to herself, sotto voce, as she caught sight of Lucy's crimson blushes, '; Little fool Well, if Horace doesn't win his game now it isn't my fault." Perhaps it would hardly be fair to say that Lucy was particularly anxious that afternoon about her appearance. Anyhow, she was ready before twelve, and among the blooming faces and graceful toilettes that roamed Beckford woods that afternoon there were few who could equal, none who could surpass, Lucy Woodville. flORACE HARCOURT, the " double H" of whom Miss Damer spoke, was the only son of a gentleman whose dissipation had wasted a fine property, and who was now living in retirement in France on what he had saved from the wreck. Horace, who was originally intended for the army, had taken to what are called commercial pursuits; that is, he had speculated in shares; and as his speculations for a time had turned out well, he gained a certain position in the world, and was supposed to be a man of some means--an impression which he did not fail to encourage--as well as an active and shrewd man of business. He was living in London, but business had frequently brought him to Milchester--and so had the Castlemoor races; and he had got acquainted with the Damers. At first he carried on a very vigorous flirtation with Miss Damer, and all the gossips thought it was "coming to someby which elegant phrase they meant that thins the flirtation was likely to take the shape ...