The Winged Beetle

192 MR TODD OSSORY. I want to say a word, girlie, about young Del- homme. Er—well, we all grow older, you know—one day—er—ah ! Nice young fellow, Delhomme ! EUPHEMIA. I refused him twenty minutes ago, father. OSSORY. What ? How the deuce did you know what I was going to say ? Bless me, I believe there may be some- thing in this psychic business after all ! EUPHEMIA. Yes, father, I feel I have strange powers ! OSSORY. But look here, girlie, why did you refuse him ? Reculer pour mieux sauter is all very well, don’t you know, but he gives twice who gives quickly. EUPHEMIA. That’s the point, father. If you accept a man the first time he asks you it’s practically bigamy ! OSSORY. But—little girl, you ought to accept him at once. He will make you an excellent husband—I wish it. [Pompously.] It has ever been the desire of my heart to see my Phemie happily mated before I lay my old bones in the grave. EUPHEMIA. But I don’t love him. He’s a quirk. OSSORY. Tut ! Nonsense ! Appetite comes with eating. EUPHEMIA. But I don’t care for hors d’oeuvre. OSSORY. Euphemia, this is a very serious matter for your poor old father. EUPHEMIA. What have you got to do with it ? Really, father—— OSSORY. I have everything to do with it. The fact is, my child—here ! I’ll make a clean breast of it. I’ve been gambling, and things have gone wrong. Only temporarily, of course, you understand. Only temporarily. But—oh, if I had only kept out of Fidos !