Page:The Reverberator (2nd edition, American issue, London and New York, Macmillan & Co., 1888).djvu/141

Rh "You ought to understand, when I say something magnanimous." And settling himself on the sofa Mr. Flack continued, "Well, how do you get on without Mr. Probert?"

"Very well indeed, thank you."

The tone in which the girl spoke was not an encouragement to free pleasantry, so that if Mr. Flack continued his inquiries it was in a guarded and respectful manner. He was eminently capable of reflecting that it was not in his interest to strike her as indiscreet and profane; he only wanted to appear friendly, worthy of confidence. At the same time he was not averse to the idea that she should still perceive in him a certain sense of injury, and that could be indicated only by a touch of bitterness here and there. The injury, the bitterness might make her pity him. "Well, you are in the grand monde, I suppose," he resumed at last, not with an air of derision but resignedly, sympathetically.

"Oh, I'm not in anything; I'm just where I've always been."

"I'm sorry; I hoped you would tell me about it," said Mr. Flack, gravely.

"You think too much of that. What do you want to know about it for?"

"Dear Miss Francie, a poor devil of a journalist who has to get his living by studying up things, he has to think too much, sometimes, in order to