Here he read the letter aloud, from beginning to end, adding, at its conclusion, on his own account, "There, I knew my boy had it in him. I saw it from the first, as soon as I set eyes on the portrait he painted of our Helen."
"Never blush, girl!" ventured Mr. Parnassus, but a stern look from Mr. Oldstone checked further banter.
"Well, well, well!" muttered our landlord. "To think that our daughter should have her portrait exhibited at the Royal Academy. That the Royal family should see it, and, moreover, that it should have been bought by a peer of the realm, and paid for money down. Why! it passes belief. Don't it Molly?" Our hostess thus appealed to by her spouse, admitted that it did seem strange, and suggested that perhaps all that got into the papers might not be true. The suggestion was instantly howled down. Cries of "Yes, yes, every word of it," from Mr. Crucible. "Especially that part where the Queen wouldn't have such a face about her at any price," chimed in Professor Cyanite.
"Just like the old cat, jealous of her husband," added Mr. Blackdeed.
"Exactly so," agreed Dr. Bleedem.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen, a truce to this," now interrupted Mr. Oldstone. "I propose that we meet together this evening at eight o'clock, over a steaming bowl of rum punch, such as our good host here understands so well how to brew, and that we drink to the health of our artist friend, with a three times three." This proposition was unanimously applauded, and subsequently carried out. We much fear that on this occasion our worthy chairman was again carried away rather too much by his—emotion.
The next morning our antiquary came down late for breakfast, rather muddled in the upper regions, with, moreover, several sharp twinges of gout, which reminded him that he was not so young as he used to be. His coffee had got cold, and he had been left to finish his breakfast alone, all the other members having been drawn away to their several avocations.
"Do you want anything, sir?" asked Helen, appearing at the door.
"Well, yes, my girl," answered Oldstone. "I want you to sit down here, and keep me company."
"I can't stay for long, sir," replied Helen. "Mother is sure to be calling me."