The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-15
The Mystery Of
brood
y--
Charles dickens
"

much too fine. Good. And you correspond"
ing. as she recalled their epistolary differences.
such is the meaning that l attach 10 the
said Mr.. GFewgious aGddd. All goes we'll,
time works on, and at this next Christmas time
to give the exemplary lady in the corner win
dow, 70 whom we are so much indebted, business
notice of your departure in the ensuing half
year. Your relations with her are far more
than business relations. no doubt; but a resi-
due Of business remains in them. and business
man." proceeded Mr.. Grewgious, as If it sud
denly occurred to him TO mention IL. and /
these two reasons. some competent Proxy would
give You away. / should take it very kindly.
Rosa intimated. with her eyes on the ground,
that she thought a substitute might be found
Surely. surely said Mr.. Grewgious. For
instance, the gentleman who teaches Dancing
full propriety. He would advance and retire in
a manner satisfactory to the feelings of the
officiating clergyman, and of yourself, and the
bridegroom. and all parties concerned. l am
am a particularly Angular man. said Mr.;
Grewgious, as If he had made up his MIND
to screw it out at last: and should only blum
Rosa sat still and silent. Perhaps her mind
had not got quite so far as the ceremony yet,
but IN was Tagging nsgm !29t, the Nav Nav there mT dear" said
Mr.. Grewgious. referring to his notes, dispos-
ing of Marriage with his pencil, and TAX
before possessed you with the contents of your
fathers will, 1 think it right at this time to
leave a certified copy of 1t in your hands. And
although Mr.. Edwin is also aware OF its con-
tents. l think IL right at this time likewise
to place a certified copy of it in Mr.. Jaspers
'Not in his own?' asked Rosa, looking up
s S%dhSS''' cannot the copy go " AOu' MN
why IS. my dear. if you particularly wish
it; bu: 1 spoke to Mr.. Jasper as being his
trustee"
II do particularly wish it. if you please.
Ike Mr.. Jasper to come between u.s. in any
ut is natural. 1 suppose said Mr.. Grew,
gious. that your young husband should be all
in all. Yes. You observe that l say. 1 sup
natural man, and 1 don't know from my own
Rosa looked at him with some wonder.
Il mean" he explained, that young ways
were meyer my ways. l was the only Off
half believe l was born advanced in life my
self. No personality is intended towards the
that while the general growth of people seem
to have come into existence. buds, l seem to
~chip-and a very dry one-when / first became
aware of myself. Respecting the other certi-
Respecting your inheritance. 1 think you know
all. 1t is an annuity of two hundred and nifty
some other items to your credit, all duly car
ried to account: with vouchers. Will place you
in possession Of a lump-sum Of money, rather
exceeding Seventeen Hundred Pounds. L am
empowered to advance the cost of your prepa-
is told" '1'
VIII you please tell me- said Rosa, taking
the paper with a prettily knitted brow, but not
going to say? | can understand what you tell
in law writings MY poor papa and Eddy's
father made their agreement together as very
S %sl tS ana m hrm f ba vd laSt dd dalen and ~ drm ora and f fast
friends after them?"
For the lasting good of both of us. and the
lasting happiness of both of us?"
That We might be to one another even
much more than they had been to one an
other?"
lust sop
NOT 1T so was mot not bound % l. upon t EDDY; and an it was
"Don''t be epG agitated' nv NV dear. In the case
that it brings tears into your affectionate eyes
not marrying one another-no. no forfeiture
on either side You would then have been my
have befallen you. Bad enough perhaps!"
He would have come into his partnership
derived from his father. and into it's arrears
TO his credit Qf any, on attaining his majority
Rosa. with her perplexed face and knitted
brow, bit the corner of her attested copy, as
stractedly on the floor. and smoothing it with
her foot.
I'm short" said Mr.. Grewgious. this be-
ect. tenderly expressed on both sides. That
it was strongly felt. and that there was a live
doubt. when you were both children, you be-
gan to be accustomed to it, and it has pros
pered. But circumstances alter cases; and 1
made this visit to-day. partly. indeed principal
ly. to discharge myself of the duty Of telling
NOus my rear lutb gOuAS ptOplt Ndn Ouly
be betrothed in marriage (except as a matter
Of convenience. and therefore mockery and mis-
ery) Of their own free will, their own attach
ment, and their own assurance Git may or il
may not prove a mistaken one, but we must
TO each other, and will make each other happy.
II is 10 be supposed. for example, that if either
mistrust on that subject. his mind would not
be changed by the change of circumstances in
volved in the change of your years.? Unten-
able, unreasonable, inconclusive, and preposter-
ous!'
Mr.. Grewgious said all this. as If he were
repeating a lesson. SO expressionless of any
approach to spontaneity were his face and man
II have now. my dear" he added. blurring
out WHIP with his pencil. discharged myself
of what is doubtless a formal duty in this case,
but still a duty in such a case. Memorandum.
Wishes My dear. is there any wish of
Rosa shook her head. with an almost plaintive
air of hesitation in want OF help.
from you with reference TO your affairs?'
II should like to settle them with Eddy
first, If you please, said Rosa, plating the
Surely. surely returned Mr.. Grewgious.
you two should be Of one mind in all things.
Is the young gentleman expected shortly %
will be back at Christmas"
Nothing could happen better. You will. on
his return at Christmas. arrange all matters
of detail with him; you will then communicate
with me; and l will discharge myself las
a mere business acquaintance of my business
responsibilities towards the accomplished lady
in the corner window. They will accrue at
that season" BIurring. pencil once again.
Memorandum, Leave. Yes. Will now.
Gould l." said Rosa. rising. as he jerked
out Of his chair in his ungainly way: could
| ask you, most kindly to come to me at
Christmas, if l had anything particular TO say
to your
why certainly. certainly" he rejoined: ap-
parently-if such a word can be used of one
who had no apparent lights or shadows about
him-complimented by the question. AS a
particularly Angular man. 1 do not fit smoothly
into the social circle, and consequently / have
no other engagement at Christmas-time than
TO partake. on the twenty-hfth. of a boiled
turkey and celery sauce with a-with a particu-
larry Angular clerk l have the good fortune
10 possess, whose father. being a Norfolk farm
er. sends him up (the turkey up). as a present
to me, from the neighborhood of Norwich. L
should be quite proud OF your wishing TO see
me, my dear. AS a professional Receiver OF
rents, so very few people do wish to see me,
that the novelty would be bracing-"
For his ready acquiescence, the grateful Rosa
put her hands upon his shoulders stood on tip
toe, and instantly kissed him.
Lord bless me-" cried Mr.. GrewgiOuS. Thank
you. my dear The honor is almost equal to the
pleasure. Miss Twinkleton, madam. ! have had
a most satisfactory conversation with my ward,
and l will now release you from the incumbrance
Of my presence"
with a gracious condesceDsion: say not in
cumbrance. Not so, by any means. / cannot
permit you to say So"
newspapers" said Mr. Grewgious. stammer-
ing a little. that when a distinguished visitor
mot that 1 am one; far from i). goes 10 a
school mot that this is one; far from it,. he asks
now the afternoon in he-College-Of which
you are the eminent head. the young ladies
might gain nothing, except in name, by hav-
ing the rest Of the day allowed them. But if
there is any young lady at ell under a cloud,
might / solicit"
"Ah: Mr.; Grewgioqs, Mr.. Grewgiousi'' cried