“No, no, I’ll put myself to bed!”
“Come, sir, please do, like a good boy—Master Pinney won’t go without you, and I must put him to bed while they are dishing up. Come, sir, I’ve got a mince-pie for you.”
“And some oysters—Bobby said I should have some oysters!”
“Yes, yes; come along, sir.”
And Master Ducky submitted to his fate, while Julius looked his wonder, and asked, “Is he nursery-maid?”
“Just now, since the bonne went,” said Lenore. “He is a most faithful, attached servant, who will do anything for them. She does attach people deeply when the first shock is over.”
“I am coming to believe so,” he answered. “There seem to me to be excellent elements.”
“I am so glad!” said Lenore; “she is so thorough, so true and frank; and much of this oddness is really an inconsistent struggle to keep out of debt.”
“Well! at any rate I am thankful to her for this opportunity of seeing you,” said Julius. “We have both been longing to speak our welcome to you.”
“Thank you. It is so kind,” she fervently whispered; “all the kinder for the state of things that is insisted on—though you know that it can make no real difference,” she added, apparently addressing the goldfish.