I sketched, and the other two rambled about,
measuring and filling up archaeological papers, with details of
orientation, style, and all the rest, deploring barbarisms and
dilapidations, making curious and delightful discoveries, pitying
those who thought the Dun Cow's rib and Chatterton's loft the most
interesting features of St. Mary's Redcliff, and above all rubbing
brasses with heel ball, and hanging up their grim effigies wherever
there was a vacant space on the walls of our doll's house.
And though we grumbled when Clarence was detained at the office
later than we expected, this was qualified by pride at feeling his
importance there as a man in authority. It was, however, with much
dismay and some inhospitality that we learnt that a young man
belonging to the office--in fact, Mr. Frith's great-nephew--was
coming to sail for Canton in one of the vessels belonging to the
firm, and would have to be 'looked after.' He could not be asked to
sleep at Prospect Cottage, for Emily had the only spare bedchamber,
and Clarence had squeezed himself into a queer little dressing
closet to give me his room; but the housekeeper (a treasure found by
Gooch) secured an apartment in the next house, and we were to act
hosts, much against our will. Clarence had barely seen the youth,
who had been employed in the office at Liverpool, living with his
mother, who was in ill-health and had died in the last spring.
Pages:
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326