"I like him, because he always smiles at me and looks so friendly and so funny. He's the kind of man one feels one would like to knit something for; a—muffler or mittens. I will, next Christmas, if he wouldn't be offended."
"Offended! Good heavens, no, he'd be delighted—perfectly delighted, I'm sure, perfectly. Come in!"
"A telegram, sir," spoke Bridgewater's voice. He always "sir'd" his master in the presence of strangers.
"Excuse me," said Mr Hancock, putting on his glasses and opening the telegram. He read it carefully, frowned, then smiled, and handed it to Fanny.
"Am I to read it?" said the girl.
"Please."
Fanny read:—
"I relinquish fishing-rights. Make the best terms with Lambert you can.—Bevan."
"Isn't it nice of him?" she said without evincing any surprise; "he told me he would when he called."