"Well; do go and dress yourselves," at last said Fanny, pretending to
speak to her brothers but looking more especially a me. "You know
how mad papa will be. And remember Mr. Green, we expect great things
from your dancing to-night. Your coming just at this time is such a
Godsend." And again that soupcon of a smile passed over her face.
I hurried up to my room, Peter and Jack coming with me to the door.
"Is everything right?" said Peter, looking among the towels and
water-jugs. "They've given you a decent fire for a wonder," said
Jack, stirring up the red hot turf which blazed in the grate. "All
right as a trivet," said I. "And look alive like a good fellow,"
said Jack. We had scowled at each other in the morning as very young
men do when they are strangers; and now, after a few hours, we were
intimate friends.
I immediately turned to my work, and was gratified to find that all
my things were laid out ready for dressing; my portmanteau had of
course come open, as my keys were in my pocket, and therefore some of
the excellent servants of the house had been able to save me all the
trouble of unpacking. There was my shirt hanging before the fire; my
black clothes were spread upon the bed, my socks and collar and
handkerchief beside them; my brushes were on the toilet table, and
everything prepared exactly as though my own man had been there.
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