FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68  
69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   >>   >|  
ainst him were it known; and as he had hopes from my lady's aristocratic connections, and need in certain difficulties of all the aid he could muster, he found the threat not one to be sneezed at. His laugh betrayed this. However, he tried to put the best face on the matter. 'You won't do that,' he said. 'She would spoil sport, my friend. Her ladyship is no fool, and would not suffer your little amusements.' 'She is no fool,' Mr. Dunborough replied with emphasis. 'As you will find, Tommy, if she comes to Oxford, and learns certain things. It will be farewell to your chance of having that milksop of a Marquis for a pupil!' Now, it was one of Mr. Thomasson's highest ambitions at this time to have the young Marquis of Carmarthen entrusted to him; and Lady Dunborough was connected with the family, and, it was said, had interest there. He was silent. 'You see,' Mr. Dunborough continued, marking with a chuckle the effect his words had produced, 'you have got to get her.' Mr. Thomasson did not admit that that was so, but he writhed in his chair; and presently he took his leave and went away, his plump pale face gloomy and the crow's feet showing plain at the corners of his eyes. He had given no promise; but that evening a messenger from the college requested Mrs. Masterson to attend at his rooms on the following morning. She did not go. At the appointed hour, however, there came a knock on the tutor's door, and that gentleman, who had sent his servant out of the way, found Mr. Fishwick on the landing. 'Tut-tut!' said the don with some brusqueness, his hand still on the door; 'do you want me?' He had seen the attorney after the duel, and in the confusion attendant on the injured man's removal; and knew him by sight, but no farther. 'I--hem--I think you wished to see Mrs. Masterson?' was Mr. Fishwick's answer, and the lawyer, but with all humility, made as if he would enter. The tutor, however, barred the way. 'I wished to see Mrs. Masterson,' he said drily, and with his coldest air of authority. 'But who are you?' 'I am here on her behalf,' Mr. Fishwick answered, meekly pressing his hat in his hands. 'On her behalf?' said Mr. Thomasson stiffly. 'Is she ill?' 'No, sir, I do not know that she is ill.' 'Then I do not understand,' Mr. Thomasson answered in his most dignified tone. 'Are you aware that the woman is in the position of a college servant, inhabiting a cottage the property of the college? And l
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68  
69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Thomasson
 

Dunborough

 

Fishwick

 
college
 

Masterson

 
answered
 

behalf

 

Marquis

 

wished

 

servant


attorney

 
confusion
 

attendant

 

injured

 

appointed

 

brusqueness

 

landing

 

gentleman

 

morning

 
attend

understand

 

stiffly

 
dignified
 

cottage

 

property

 

inhabiting

 

position

 
pressing
 

meekly

 
answer

lawyer

 

humility

 

farther

 

removal

 
authority
 

barred

 

coldest

 
suffer
 

amusements

 

replied


ladyship

 
friend
 

emphasis

 

things

 

farewell

 

chance

 

learns

 

Oxford

 

matter

 

connections