To his great delight, and, indeed, surprise, he found Dot in the very best of tempers. Her little villa was surrounded by a wall which protected it from the vulgar stare of the passer-by, and Tom found her in her breakfast-room arranging flowers and humming an air out of Diana, a burlesque which she was at that time engaged in illustrating at the Mausoleum Theatre. She was arrayed in a morning-gown of light-blue, trimmed with some fluffy stuff strangely suggestive of powder-puffs. She received her guest with considerable warmth; asked her “poor old boy” why he looked so “glum,” and when in reply he admitted that he had been unable to obtain the trifling sum which she had requested, burst out laughing, and said,—
“Don’t look so solemn, Dolly,”—’twas her pet name for him. “I shall be able to do without it for the present. A wealthy connection of mine has just died leaving me sufficient for all immediate wants. And now what’s the news?”
Tom having mentally blessed the rich and opportune relative, and having regretted aloud that any person should have deprived him of the coveted opportunity of playing the part of relieving officer, declared that there was no news.
He then began to look about the room. This is a habit which most men have in visiting rooms where others, perchance, may be received—others that they know not of. There is a suspicion of the very furniture. A jealousy of articles left behind. Great Heavens! what heart-burnings have been caused by the discovery of a strange cigar-case or a ring with an unfamiliar monogram.
Tom, strolling up to the mantel-piece while chatting to Dot, or listening to her artless prattle, perceived, nestling between the ormolu timepiece and a vase of early primroses, a snuff-box. He took it up and involuntarily ejaculated,—
“Halloa!”
Dot looked up, and observing the object of his curiosity, exclaimed,—
“Oh, put that down, it—it’s nothing.”
“Nothing?” said Tom. “It’s a snuff-box. Come, where did you get it?”
Dot pouted. She must not be cross-examined. It was an insult to her. Did Dolly doubt her?