Fanny Lambert

a was removing the things, "for I must be going in a minute, and I have such a

asked Le

perfectly

n't say

r young

le I'm happy. Father says I was addled at birth, and that I ought to have been put out of doors on a red-hot shovel as they used to do long ago in Ireland with the omadlunns, or was it the changelings-no matter. I wanted

consultation. He was in his element, he saw a prospect

speaking of a tumour or carbuncle, "that makes h

he spoke to me abou

" asked

gainst a b

ttled; it's the one again

A

re. They've spent ever so much money over it, it's worrying father to death, but he won't

thing," said Leavesley. "Wh

g

ly rich, a

ensive anyhow,"

r and comprehensive,"

es flashing, "and I wish he and

ficulty," said Leavesley, scratchin

y lifting a lady-bird, that had somehow got into the studio and

ight at the white tapering finger on which the painted

solicitor,

k of South

Wh

nco

e's my

d Fanny, "

e's my

g

t I sai

im boiled. It's awfully funny, though, that h

ning forward in his chair and pressi

lady, may I mak

said

ions, I shou

," cut in

y advice were asked I would fir

Leavesley. "What

ied Miss Lambert with a laugh, "bu

y friend Leavesley. I mean the uncle of my friend. Go to Mr Hancock, go to him frankly, fearlessly, tell him the tale[Pg 16] you have told us; tell it to

, turning to Leavesley, who was seated mou

endid idea, a

ed Verneede, speaking in an i

of politeness. "Do you know what you're t

'm going to him,"

ything. I'm not sure that it wouldn't b

ice, it's a question of comm

ncle of my friend Leavesley, is endowed with common-sense an

g

y, the prosaic vision of Jam

awyers know of just

ed Fanny, "it's quite

concurred

ns. Mr Leavesley for a moment sat contemplating the crazy plan propounded by Mr Verneede. Then h

t; I don't know much about the law, but, anyhow

Lambert, puttin

looked at

h him at the office u

cab. Will you

, ra

the door," sai

g

the dentist's as far as the door, for fear I'd run away. Once I

or his hat. "It's like facing the mu

s Lambert, "if you heard me at the dentist's

ft the

had started. That was all very well as a statement made to himself: it did not conceal the fact that Miss Lambert was a terribly difficult girl to propose to. One of those jolly girls who treat one as a brother are generally the most difficult to deal with when one approaches them as a

Lambert and Verneede engaged in vivacious conversation,

the chain of his thoug

her hand-I daren't-bother!-does she care a button about me? Perhaps it would be better to put it off till the next time-I'm not going to f

and Leavesley came out of his reverie to fin

g

erneede, "what did yo

ilst Verneede opened the door. "

ey, "a four-wheeler

I was thrown out of one once. Besides, this is more respectable. Do get

He got in, Verneede shut the door and stood on the pavemen

itation brougham, but the old growler blood came out in its voice, every window rattled. Driving in it, one cou

Lambert, leaning[Pg 21] forward towards her companion-he was seated

go to

w we've tak

o somewh

he

-Madame T

leasant." She opened her purse, turned its meagre contents into her l

and three shillings

k," answered Leavesley a

ney, replacing it, and closing the purse with a snap. "No matter,

the saccharine possibilities of

does. I say, is this c

g

kly and suddenly, "Fanny, let's go somewhe

he

river-an

t. "I haven't been up the river

what day co

week-only father is going away next week,

nd Verneede went for

ake tea-oh, don't let us talk of picnics, I f

ho

Hanc

out, he's perfectly savage

ha

not tell him

hy

g

arrel with him once in three months or so. If he thou

m," said Mi

er till you come out," said Le

ha

e for a picni

g lady of Niger-wasn't it?-who went for a r

treet. At the corner of Southampton Row it stopped. Th

" said he, "No. -. I'll wait

least I'll be as short

by the grim, business-like houses. She turned for

hat was in progress. Trying to fancy what Miss Lambert was saying to

h a proceeding except Verneede, a proceeding so

or, and tell him to cease because h

o ought to cease, because it wa

head, and then te

augh that caused a passing

es passed, ten, fifte

minutes passed. Could James Hancock really have

lerk, come out and make off down So

g

out for the twentieth time, when from the doorway of No. - Fanny appea

sed. Immediately after Fanny came James Hancock,

ccompany

alked away down Southampton Row, Hancock walking with his long stride; F

llowed full

at, that he was either irritated or perplexed. He walked hurriedly, and, viewed

er, and open the door. Fanny got in, her companion gave some directions to the

sked Mr Leavesley, taking off his hat

gled in his mind with a feeling of pur