“Yes, I expect to make his acquaintance shortly.”
“Ripping good chap, Charlie! You’ll like him.
“He’s very anxious to inspect you,” the young subaltern continued. “He did all he could to draw Jim out about you, but it was no go—Jim just gazed amiably upon him. Then he drew a fancy picture of you.”
“Who did? Jim?”
“Don’t jeer! You know who I mean. He also offered bribes to read your letters—precious small bribes, though! But nothing could make Jim wrathy when he was reading the epistles of Ethel.”
“You helped him, I suppose?”
“Helped Jim—to read them? Who’s mixed with the personal pronouns now?”
“From your account of your cousin,” Ethel observed, disdaining to answer the gibes, “I think it very doubtful that I shall like him. He appears to have been—well—impertinent.”
“Regular impudent beggar he is! I knew you’d think so; that’s why I told you. Never mind, Ethel, you may be sure of this, that he’ll like you. Besides, I stuck up for you, as Jim wouldn’t.”