"Emilia," said he, "you dare not be so cruel as to expect this of
me. I cannot go and see your uncle, indeed, I cannot."
"You must," said I; "I am very good to you on the whole; this is the
only call I expect you to pay, but this one must be. Up with you,
and make yourself look respectable."
So off he went, with despair in his eye, and Jane and I waited for
him in the kitchen. At the end of half an hour he reappeared. He had
merely put on a horrible black coat; for the rest, I could see no
improvement.
There he stood, without hat or gloves.
"I am ready," said he.
"You imp!" I cried; "you've been playing about! What have you been
at all this time? Do you suppose I can present such a scarecrow to
my relations?"
"Emilia," answered the poor dear, very solemnly, "I have washed!"
There was nothing for it but to make him fetch the clothes-brush,
and other implements of torture. Jane and I marched him out into the
hall, and there we prepared the victim. We brushed his clothes, and
straightened his necktie. Even Richard Norton was so excited by the
scene that he fetched the blacking-bottle and polished Gabriel's
boots, whilst Jane acted hairdresser and I held him down by both
hands.
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