‘But who is she? what is she? where is she? Is she the Greek?’
‘When a fellow can help himself so coolly to his information as you do, I scarcely think he deserves much aid from others; but, I may tell you, she is not Maritana, nor a provincial actress, nor any actress at all, but a young lady of good blood and birth, and my own first cousin.’
‘On my oath, it’s the best thing I ever knew of you.’
Kearney laughed out at this moment at something in the letter, and did not hear the other’s remark.
‘It seems, Master Joe, that the young lady did not reciprocate the rapturous delight you feel, at sight of your picture. My sister says—I’ll read you her very words—“she does not like the portrait of your friend Atlee; he may be clever and amusing, she says, but he is undeniably false.” Mind that—undeniably false.’
‘That’s all the fault of the artist. The stupid dog would place me in so strong a light that I kept blinking.’
‘No, no. She reads you like a book,’ said the other.
‘I wish to Heaven she would, if she would hold me like one.’
‘And the nice way she qualifies your cleverness, by calling you amusing.’
‘She could certainly spare that reproach to her cousin Dick,’ said he, laughing; ‘but no more of this sparring. When do you mean to take me down to the country with you? The term will be up on Tuesday.’