"He's not a German, I hope," Mrs. Dennant answered, passing her forgers round a petal, to impress its fashion on her brain; "I don't like Germans. Is n't he the one you wrote about--come down in the world? Such a pity with so young a fellow! His father was a merchant, I think you told us. Antonia says he 's quite refined to look at.""Oh, yes," said Shelton, feeling on safe ground; "he's refined enough to look at."Mrs. Dennant took the rose and put it to her nose.
"Delicious perfume! That was a very touchin' story about his goin' without food in Paris. Old Mrs. Hopkins has a room to let; I should like to do her a good turn. I'm afraid there's a hole in the ceilin', though. Or there's the room here in the left wing on the ground-floor where John the footman used to sleep. It's quite nice;perhaps he could have that."
"You 're awfully kind," said Shelton, " but---""I should like to do something to restore his self-respect,", went on Mrs. Dennant, "if, as you say, he 's clever and all that. Seein' a little refined life again might make a world of difference to him.
It's so sad when a young man loses self-respect."Shelton was much struck by the practical way in which she looked at things. Restore his self-respect! It seemed quite a splendid notion! He smiled, and said, "You're too kind. I think---""I don't believe in doin' things by halves," said Mrs. Dennant; "he does n't drink, I suppose?""Oh, no," said Shelton. "He's rather a tobacco maniac, of course.""Well, that's a mercy! You would n't believe the trouble I 've had with drink, especially over cooks and coachmen. And now Bunyan's taken to it.""Oh, you'd have no trouble with Ferrand," returned Shelton; " you couldn't tell him from a gentleman as far as manners go."Mrs. Dennant smiled one of her rather sweet and kindly smiles.
"My dear Dick," she said, "there's not much comfort in that. Look at poor Bobby Surcingle, look at Oliver Semples and Victor Medallion;you could n't have better families. But if you 're sure he does n't drink! Algy 'll laugh, of course; that does n't matter--he laughs at everything."Shelton felt guilty; being quite unprepared for so rapid an adoption of his client.
"I really believe there's a lot of good in him," he stammered; "but, of course, I know very little, and from what he tells me he's had a very curious life. I shouldn't like---""Where was he educated?" inquired Mrs. Dennant. "They have no public schools in France, so I 've been told; but, of course, he can't help that, poor young fellow! Oh, and, Dick, there 's one thing--has he relations? One has always to be so careful about that. It 's one thing to help a young fellow, but quite another to help his family too. One sees so many cases of that where men marry girls without money, don't you know.""He has told me," answered Shelton, "his only relations are some cousins, and they are rich."Mrs. Dennant took out her handkerchief, and, bending above the rose, removed a tiny insect.
"These green-fly get in everywhere," she said.
"Very sad story; can't they do anything for him?" and she made researches in the rose's heart.
"He's quarrelled with them, I believe," said Shelton; "I have n't liked to press him, about that.""No, of course not," assented Mrs. Dennant absently--she had found another green-fly "I always think it's painful when a young man seems so friendless."Shelton was silent; he was thinking deeply. He had never before felt so distrustful of the youthful foreigner.
"I think," he said at last, "the best thing would be for you to see him for yourself.""Very well," said Mrs. Dennant. "I should be so glad if you would tell him to come up. I must say I do think that was a most touchin' story about Paris. I wonder whether this light's strong enough now for me to photograph this rose."Shelton withdrew and went down-stairs. Ferrand was still at breakfast. Antonia stood at the sideboard carving beef for him, and in the window sat Thea with her Persian kitten.
Both girls were following the traveller's movements with inscrutable blue eyes. A shiver ran down Shelton's spine. To speak truth, he cursed the young man's coming, as though it affected his relations with Antonia.
