Fiction > Book editions > London, 1885 - Dynamiter

THE SUPEliFLUOUS MAXSlON*. Ill
receive no other lodgers ; but she assured him that would
be no matter, as these Avere friends of Mr. Jones's.
'And,' she continued, moving suddenly to the dining-
room door, 'let us begin here.' Somerset was too late
to prevent her entering, and perhaps he lacked the
courage to essay. ' Ah ! ' she cried, ' how changed it is ! '
' Madam,' cried the young man, ' since your entrance,
it is I who have the right to say so.'
She received this inane compliment with a demure
and conscious droop of the eyelids, and gracefully steer-
ing her dress among the mingled litter, now with a
smile, now with a sigh, reviewed the wonders of the two
apartments. She gazed upon the cartoons with spark-
ling eyes, and a heightened colour, and in a somewhat
breathless voice, expressed a high opinion of their meiits.
She praised the effective disposition of tlie rockery, and
in the bediX)om, of which Somerset had vainly endeavoured
to defend the entry, she fairly broke forth in admiration.
' How simple and manly ! ' she cried : ' none of that
effeminacy of neatness, which is so detestable in a man ! '
Hard upon this, telling him, before he had time to reply,
that she very well knew her way, and would trouble him
no further, she took her leave with an engaging smile,
and ascended the staircase alone.
For more than an hour, the young lady remained
closeted with Mr. Jones ; and at the end of that time,
the night being now come completely, they left the house
in company. This was the first time since the arrival of
his lodger, that Somerset had found himself aloue with
the Irish widow ; and without the loss of any more time
than was required by decency, he stepped to the foot of
the stairs and hailed her by her name. She came in-
stantly, wreathed in weak smiles and with a nodding
head ; and when the young man politely offered to in-
troduce her to the treasures of his art, she swore that
nothing could afford her greater pleasure, for, though
she had never crossed the threshold, she had frequently
observed his beautiful pictures through the door. On
entering the dining-room, the sight of a bottle and two
glasses prepared her to be a gentle critic ; and as soon