The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-29
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actor.
Addenbrooke had rooms in Gower-st
a sitting-room and bedroom, divided by
folding doors The whole apartment had
begun life as what house agents call a
spacious double drawing-room, and bore
yet the marks OF its former state OF exist
ence.
The mantelpiece, which now supported
host of bottles, variouslv shaped and
filed, was of white marble, heavify carved
summoned up to the imaginative mind
visions of gilt clocks and candlesticks
under glass shades.
The walls hung with white watered
paper, were divided into panels by strips
OF gold beading; and from the ceiling a
shrouded chandelier depended from a
twelfth-cake-like decoration in white and
gold plaster.
Addenbrooke had drawn his writing
table, with the lamp on it, close to the
fire, and had settled down to a long
nights work. II was the evening follow
ing Lydia's confession, and he was too
busy to get up to st. Johns Wood. He
sighed at the thought OF this, then
plunged into the pile of papers, which
not only covered the table, but overlooked
into several neighboring chairs.
He had not been long at work when
the door was flung open, and man en-
tered the room.
''Still in these gilded halls, Johnny"
said a voice, which was not quite so
drawing nor so full OF quiet humor as the
speaker seemed to intend.
Fleming, by all that's wonderful"
cried Addenbrooke, rising with extended
hand.
The newcomer was a large, heavily
built young man, with dark hair, and a
complexion, originally ford, burnt crim-
son by the African sun.
He was distinctly handsome, though
the lower part OF his face was a trifle
heavy, and there was a lack of finish
about the ears and nostrils.
''Sit down." said Addenbrooke, clearing
a chair and resuming his own seat
Examinations, ugh" Fleming fiicked
with his large finger at the papers on the
desk. "If it's not your own exams, it's
other peoples, poor old Johnny"
Fleming had the greatest contempt for
examinations, in which, indeed he had
conspicuouslv failed to distinguish him
self; the less brilliant Addenbrooke hay
ing commonplace knack of getting into
the first class, which is often the way
with your dull, plodding fellows.
These two men had been friends, after
fashion, since their first term at the uni
versity. In those days Fleming had been
raw, unhappy, self-conscious young man,
subject to miserable, hideous fits of shy
ness, and secretly ashamed of the paternal
glove-shop.
Now, perhaps, he was too fond OF talking
about the glove-shop; of drawing jocose
comparisons between himself and a we'll
known glover's son of Standardization
and the only remaining mark of shyness
was certain emphasis of self-contidence.
Addenbrooke's affection for him was rath-
er a survival from earlier days than any
thing else, though Johnny, it must be
owned, imposed a far less severe standard
of conduct on his friends.
Where do You hang out?" asked
Addenbrooke, gathering together the de-
spised examination papers.
az have been down at Twickenham
with my people. Can't stand much of
that, you know l am looking out for
chambers somewhere Bond-st- way, and
Mrs. Baxter is going to put me up here
for night or two.
ooh, good. You know Mrs. Baxter has
that portmanteau of yours ?"
Eyes; she's fetching it now, believe,
from the lumber-room. There are some
papers in it want to look at tonight"
Fleming leaned back in his chair, his
eyelids dropping moodily, as they had
trick of doing; then he said, discomfort
eddy:
Haven't you got anything to tell fell
low? You London people are all the
same. One goes away and lives what
seems lifetime-zit's so cram-full OF ex-
perience-and when one gets back, not
soul remembers if it was last week or last
year they met you at the Jenkinsons' dim
ner party"
"From what l hear, you've no cause to
complain, Fleming"
''Oh, of course, ones pestered with in
vitatiOns from a lot of silly women one
never heard of grumbled the new lion;
'but isn't there anything in the shape OF
news?"
"Well." said Addenbrooke, slowly;
''there is one piece of news, but j don't
know that it's interesting. l am thinking
OF getting married"
Addenbrooke had never been a shy
man; he was only very modest, and he
had not accustomed his friends to take an
interest in his affairs.
Fleming opened his eyes full and stared
his friend in the face. There was always
something startling In his appearance UNI
der these circumstances; perhaps because
his eyes were so rarely shown-perhaps
because of some quality in the eyes them
selves. They were curiously bright and
very brown-not black manque, but
beautiful, usual brown.
Looking at them, it was easier to real
ize the power, such as it was, which Law
renee Fleming possessed over his fellow
creatures.
"Addenbrooke, he said, leaning forward
and speaking with sudden intensity, 'as
you value your piece of mind, have moth
ing to do with women~
He flung himself back, laughing little,
and letting fall his eyelids. In few
minutes he burst into a fierce TRADE
against the whole female sex, taking Ad-
denbrooke's announcement merely as a
text.
Even Johnny was disappointed at his
lack of interest on the part of his friend;