VIII

thcladintheoutersemblanceofoneofGod'screatures." ThiswastoomuchforLadyShuttleworth."Really—"shesaid,stretchingoutherhandtothebell. "Didn'tItellyouso,mother?"criedTussietriumphantlyandthatTussie,herowndearboy,shouldinallthingssecondthismadmancompletelyoverwhelmedher."Iknewhewasabrutebehindyourback.Let'ssackhim." "James,showthisgentlemanout." "Pardonme,madam,wehavenotyetarranged—" "Oh,"interruptedTussie,"thebusinesspartcanbearrangedbetweenyouandmewithoutbotheringmymother.I'llcomepartofthewaywithyouandwe'lltalkitover.You'reabsolutelyrightaboutDawson.He'sanoutrageousmixtureofbullyandbrute."Andhehurriedintothehalltofetchhiscap,hummingOdearunknownOnewiththesternsweetface,whichwasthefirstlineofhissonnetinpraiseofPriscilla,toacheerfullittletuneofhisown. "Tussie,it'ssodamp,"criedhisanxiousmotherafterhim—"you'renotreallygoingoutinthisnastyScotchmist?Stayin,andI'llleaveyoutosettleanythingyoulike." "Oh,it'sajollymorningforawalk,"calledbackTussiegaily,searchingaboutforhiscap—"Andeyesallbeautifulwithstrenuousthought—Comeon,sir." ButFritzingwouldnotskimpanypartofhisfarewellceremonies. "Permitme,madam,"hesaid,deeplybowing,"tothankyouforyourextremelykindreception." "Kind?"echoedLadyShuttleworth,unabletostopherselffromsmiling. "Yes,madam,kind,andbeforeallthingspatient." "Yes,IdothinkI'vebeenratherpatient,"agreedLadyShuttleworth,smilingagain. "Andletme,"proceededFritzing,"jointomythanksmycongratulationsonyourpossessionofsounusuallyamiableandpromisingason." "Comeon,sir—you'llmakemevain,"saidTussie,inthedoorway—"'Hairlikeawebdivinewhereiniscaught,'"—hehummed,gettingmoreandmoreshrillandhappy. LadyShuttleworthputoutherhandimpulsively.Fritzingtookit,bentoverit,andkisseditwithmuchrespect. "Amostunusuallypromisingyoungman,"herepeated"and,madam,IcantellyouitisnotmyhabittosayathingIdonotmean." "'ThelastreflectionofGod'sdailygrace'"—chirpedTussie,lookingonmuchamused. "No,thatI'mquitecertainyoudon't,"saidLadyShuttleworthwithconviction. "Don'tsaytoomanynicethingsaboutme,"advisedTussie."Mymotherwillswallowpositivelyanything." Butneverthelesshewasdelightedforherewerehismotherandtheuncle—thevaluableandhighlytobecherisheduncle—lookingaspleasedaspossiblewitheachother,andapparentlyinthefairestwaytobecomingfastfriends.