One minute later Miss
Sparkes' door opened and Miss Sparkes herself rushed forth--a
startling vision of wild auburn hair about a warm complexion, and a
small, brisk figure girded in a flowery dressing-gown. She called at
the full pitch of her voice for Mrs. Bubb.
"Do you hear me? Mrs. Bubb, have the kindness to send me up my hot
water immejately! This moment, if you please!"
There came an answer, but not from the landlady. It sounded so near
to Miss Sparkes that she sprang back into her room.
"Patience, Polly! All in good time, my dear. Wrong foot out of bed
this morning?"
Her door slammed, and there followed a lazy laugh from Mr. Gammon's
chamber.
In due time the can of hot water was brought up, and soon after it
came a tray for Mr. Gammon, on which, together with his breakfast,
lay the three newspapers he had bespoken. Polly Sparkes throughout
her leisurely toilet was moved to irritation and curiosity by the
sound of frequent laughter on the other side of the party wall--
uproarious peals, long chucklings in a falsetto key, staccato bursts
of mirth.
Pages:
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27