"
"I promise that faithfully," said Fanny --an adroit concession, since she
had been watching him like a cat a mouse for many days.
"Then you are a good girl; and, to reward you, I will tell you in
confidence all the strange stories I have discovered today."
"Oh, do, aunt!" cried Fanny; and now her eyes began to sparkle with
curiosity.
Miss Maitland then bid her observe that the bedroom window was not a
French casement, but a double-sash window--closed at present because of
the rain; but it had been wide open at the top all the time.
"Those two were smoking, and talking secrets; and, child," said the old
lady, very impressively, "if you--want--to--know--what gentlemen really
are, you must be out of sight, and listen to them, smoking. When I was a
girl, the gentlemen came out in their true colors over their wine. Now
they are as close as wax, drinking; and even when they are tipsy they
keep their secrets. But once let them get by themselves and smoke, the
very air is soon filled with scandalous secrets none of the ladies in the
house ever dreamed of. Their real characters, their true histories, and
their genuine sentiments, are locked up like that genius in 'The Arabian
Nights,' and come out in smoke as he did.
Pages:
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132