Page:The Princess Casamassima (London and New York, Macmillan & Co., 1886), Volume 2.djvu/196

 'Yes, I can see that. But if you stayed quietly in London what would become of your princess?'

'Oh, they can always manage, ladies in that position.'

'Hanged if I understand her position!' cried Mr. Vetch, but without laughing. 'You have been for three weeks without work, and yet you look uncommonly smart.'

'You see, my living has cost me nothing. When you stay with great people you don't pay your score,' Hyacinth explained, with great gentleness. 'Moreover, the lady whose hospitality I have been enjoying has made me a very handsome offer of work.'

'What kind of work?'

'The only kind I know. She is going to send me a lot of books, to do up for her.'

'And to pay you fancy prices?'

'Oh, no; I am to fix the prices myself.'

'Are not transactions of that kind rather disagreeable, with a lady whose hospitality one has been enjoying?' Mr. Vetch inquired.

'Exceedingly! That is exactly why I shall do the books and then take no money.'

'Your princess is rather clever!' the fiddler exclaimed, in a moment, smiling.

'Well, she can't force me to take it if I won't,' said Hyacinth.

'No; you must only let me do that.'

'You have curious ideas about me,' the young man declared.

Mr. Vetch turned about to the window again, remarking that he had curious ideas about everything. Then he added, after an interval—