He was turning all this in his head and ever
and anon trying to relieve his mind by 'Clarissa', which he was
reading in conformity with his father's advice, when the
gentleman's card was put into his hand. 'Whatever does he want
here?' he said to himself; and then ordered that the gentleman
might be shown up. The gentleman in question was our old friend
Dolly Longstaff. Dolly Longstaff and Silverbridge had been
intimate as young men are. But they were not friends, nor, as far
as Silverbridge knew, had Dolly ever set foot in that house
before. 'Well, Dolly,' said he, 'what's the matter now?'
'I suppose you are surprised to see me?'
'I didn't think that you were ever up so early.' It was at this
time almost noon.
'Oh, come now, that's nonsense. I can get up as early as anybody
else. I have changed all that for the last four months. I was at
breakfast this morning very soon after ten.'
'What a miracle! Is there anything I can do for you?'
'Well yes,--there is. Of course you are surprised to see me?'
'You never were here before; and therefore it is odd.
Pages:
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928