The King of Schnorrers: Grotesques and Fantasies
ed a good deal of liberty, and did not mind accepting his invitation to tea. The corn factor, himself indifferently educated, had an exaggerated sense of the value of cu
the appearance of a suitor, in the person of Everard G. Roxdal, ensured her a future of competence, if not of the luxury she had been entitled to expect. She had a good deal of affection for Everard, who was unmistakably a clever man, as well as a good-looking one. The prospect seemed fair and cloudless. Nothing presaged t
he appointment. Hearing her astonished interrogation of Polly in the passage, Tom shambled from the sitting-room in his loose slippers and
D FROM THE S
r Clara, all confused. "But
s Newell, I sup
am Miss
u, but I wasn't able honestly to cong
nstinctively she distrusted the man. The very first tones of his deep bass voice gave her
rs," she said in return. "He h
told you all my vices. That accounts for yo
of pearly teeth. "Everard ascribe
He must be back in a moment. He surely would not break an appointment with you." T
rievance against Everard, and would
o clear out the moment Everard returns, and not spoil your tête-à-tête." But Clara was obstinate; she did not at all relish this man's society, and besides, she was not goin
t, and went up the street into the Strand. A cold shadow seemed to have fallen over all things. But just as she was getting into the 'bus
ave been trying to rush back in time. You wouldn't have found me if you had bee
not getting out of this 'bus, as you seem t
gret on his handsome face soothed her. He took the rose he was wear
him in the hansom. "Think of my despair if I had come home
TLED AGA
frame. "Not with that ma
" he echoed sharply. "What
she said. "I d
punctual, strive also to be reasonable. Tom is my best friend. From boyhood we have been always together. Th
and then he kissed her in
on't you?" he said anxiously. "I shou
rotested; "only the moment I saw him a st
u know him better, you'll find him the best of fellows. Oh, I know," he said su
torted. "'Tis you men
why you care for me
ch as he plumed himself, but he smiled on. His smile died aw
him run about hunting
nt away to leave us together," she ans
say you don
wardly, however, she felt p