Page:The Reverberator (2nd edition, American issue, London and New York, Macmillan & Co., 1888).djvu/61

Rh and what he gave up. His life had long been wanting—painfully wanting—in the element of contrast, and here was a chance to bring it in. He seemed to see it come in powerfully with Mr. Flack, after Miss Dosson had proposed that they should walk off without their initiator. Her father did not favour this suggestion; he said, "We want a double good dinner to-day and Mr. Flack has got to order it." Upon this Delia had asked the visitor if he couldn't order—a Frenchman like him; and Francie had interrupted, before he could answer the question—" Well, are you a Frenchman? that's just the point, isn't it?" Gaston Probert replied that he had no wish but to be of her nationality, and the elder sister asked him if he knew many Americans in Paris. He was obliged to confess that he did not, but he hastened to add that he was eager to go on, now that he had made such a charming beginning.

"Oh, we ain't anything—if you mean that," said the young lady. "If you go on you'll go on beyond us."

"We ain't anything here, my dear, but we are a good deal at home," Mr. Dosson remarked, smiling.

"I think we are very nice anywhere!" Francie exclaimed; upon which Gaston Probert declared that they were as delightful as possible. It was in these amenities that George Flack found them engaged; but there was none the less a certain