The children were by no means bad children in themselves. Frederick, the eldest, has been already spoken of, and, as a boy, was a pleasant and quiet, but hasty tempered lad. The two daughters were quiet, simple girls, taking much after their mother in her home tastes, and affectionate disposition. They were, at this time, of the ages of sixteen and fifteen respectively. Fred Bingham was in no way changed by the three years which had passed since the night of the boating party at Cambridge. He did not look one day older; there were no signs of whisker on his smooth fair face; a slight moustache of light hair had grown upon his upper lip; this, contrary to the usual custom in the year ‘48, he assiduously cultivated, although with small success, but if constant stroking could have conduced to its growth, it would have been a very much more important affair than it was.
The Binghams had nearly finished breakfast. Mr. Bingham had quite done, and was looking out of the window at a solitary foot passenger who was in sight, when his wife asked him,
“Are you going up to your office this morning, my dear?”
“No; I am going over to Bayswater, to value a house, but I dare say I shall be in town in the afternoon.”
“Then I suppose you are going to the office, Freddy, dear?”
“Now, look here, Venerable,” Fred Bingham said, “I suppose you want something; if you do, say it out, and don’t be beating about the bush, and asking questions about things which don’t concern you.”
“Now, Freddy, that is so like you. No, I don’t want anything at all. I was only thinking what a treat it would be to take the poor children to a pantomime.”
“Oh, you were thinking what a treat it would be to take the poor children to a pantomime,” Fred mimicked. “Well, supposing that it would, I really don’t see what connection that has to my going to office.”
“Now, Freddy, how you do take me up. I was only wondering whether you would be doing anything to tire yourselves, because if not——”
“Oh, because if not, I suppose you wondered next whether you could do me into buying tickets for them.”