Here a pair of lovers
met to quarrel and make up; there a dark-eyed nursery-maid had better
eyes for Templars than her charge; on this hand an ancient spinster,
with her lapdog in a string, regarded both enormities with scornful
sidelong looks; on that a weazen old gentleman, ogling the nursery-maid,
looked with like scorn upon the spinster, and wondered she didn't know
she was no longer young. Apart from all these, on the river's margin two
or three couple of business-talkers walked slowly up and down in earnest
conversation; and one young man sat thoughtfully on a bench, alone.
'Ned is amazingly patient!' said Mr Chester, glancing at this last-named
person as he set down his teacup and plied the golden toothpick,
'immensely patient! He was sitting yonder when I began to dress, and has
scarcely changed his posture since. A most eccentric dog!'
As he spoke, the figure rose, and came towards him with a rapid pace.
'Really, as if he had heard me,' said the father, resuming his newspaper
with a yawn. 'Dear Ned!'
Presently the room-door opened, and the young man entered; to whom his
father gently waved his hand, and smiled.
'Are you at leisure for a little conversation, sir?' said Edward.
Pages:
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210