A Charming Fellow, Volume I (of 3)

mond, I don't believe Dr. Bodk

on, madam, you s

of his genius. Algy's i

ossed her head as she utt

id "Oh!" and t

antelpiece hung, on one side, a faded water-colour sketch of a gentleman, with powdered hair; and on the other, an oval miniature of much later date, which represented a fair, florid young lady, with large languid blue eyes, and a red mouth, somewhat too full-lipped. Notwithstanding the years which had elapsed since the miniature was painted, it was still sufficiently like Mrs. Errington to be recognised for her portrait. There was an old harpsichord in the room, and a few books on hanging shelves. But the only handsome or costly object to

nging cheerily on the hob; tea-things were laid on a table in front of the fire; and a fitful, moaning wind, that rattled n

place might incline Mr. Diamond to silence,

on, she observed once more, "No; I do not think the doctor understands Algy's genius. An

ose me likely to understand Alge

st place, you are younge

teen and my eight-and-twenty-a wider gap than the

n's advantage. Mr. Diamond was a grave-looking young man, with a spare, strong figure, and a face which, in repose, was neither handsome nor ugly. His clean-shaven chin and upper lip were firmly cut, and he had a pair of keen grey eyes. But such as it was, it was a face which most persons who

I have a great opinion of your judgment, from what Algy tells me. I assure you Algy t

d, very quietly, "I do n

te openly. And I would not have you hesitate to give you

n his hand, which he held so as to hide his mouth-an habi

I am superior to the weakness of requ

for, in truth, the worthy lady's soul and body were no more like each other than a peach-stone is like a peach. Her velvety softness was not affected, but it was merely external, and

vice worth having--

be shy of speaking out!" inte

ffer is much too good to be refused, and open

se us to

es

ter than the doctor does!" exclaimed Mrs. Errington, leaning back in her

that I might not," answer

y. But for Algy! Do but think of it, Mr. Diamond; to sit all day on a high stool in a musty

gernon to choose some method of passi

uestion, Mr. Diamond. At the same time, before embracing Mr. Filthorpe's offer, I tho

e that of most of her neighbours. Having already made up her mind how to act, she would like to be told that her decision is the best and

but not moving her head from its comfortable resting-place against the back of her well-cushioned arm-cha

pardon; is

the portrait over the mantelpiece. "None of my fam

e was all on the sid

There met her view the same calm forehead, the same steady eyes, the same shelte

n family, the Ancrams, were people of the very first quality in Warwi

A

; but I cannot afford to send him there. I make no secret of my circumstances. College is out of the question for him, poor boy, u

means advise it. I

hat it is. And I am quite sure it

e sure it

e tutor's judgment, which had been

settling in this obscure little hole, when I was left a widow, was the fact that Dr. Bodkin, who was an old acquaintance of my husband, was head of the Grammar School here, and I knew I could give my

dee

umstance, you might have modified your advice, eh, Mr

my advice usually does depend somewhat on my knowledge

andour, as I told you. The fact

ked inquiringly at her companion. "Yo

newspapers, in the days whe

t distinguis

her

ay be a little family partiality, in my estimate of Lord Seely. However, be that as it may, he married an Ancram. She was

E

know? Yes; he has had serious

ger

dapted for. Well, when I perceived this bent in him, I made-indirectly-application to Lady Seely, and she returned-also i

that

ll

e to tell me, to

as enormous influence, and I don't know anyone better

romised anyth

when you know as much of the world as I do, you will see that it does not do to rush at things in a hur

template dropping the substance of

t very extraordin

n his knee, and sat looking into the fire as abstractedly as i

Nay, it was very certain that they would make such an endeavour. Possibly-probably-that was old Filthorpe's real object in inviting his young relative to accept a place in his counting-house. Indeed, they might confidently consider that it was so. Of course Algy would be a bait to these people! And as to Lord Seely, Mr. Diamond did not know (how should he? seeing that he had been little more than a twelvemonth in Whitford, and out of that time had scarcely ever had an hour's converse with her) that she, Mrs. Errington, was a person

ed an odd, smothe

s. Errington,

was no

the door was suddenly thrown open.

to his feet, and then sitting down again,