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