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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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856 thus presented to his observation, the invalid, who appeared at times to suffer great bodily pain, sank back in his chair and moaned out a feeble complaint that the girl had been gone an hour, and that everybody conspired to goad him. ‘When,’ said Nicholas, as he took the piece of paper, ‘when shall I call again?’ This was addressed to the daughter, but the father answered immediately. ‘When you’re requested to call, sir, and not before. Don’t worry and persecute. Madeline, my dear, when is this person to call again?’ ‘Oh, not for a long time, not for three or four weeks; it is not necessary, indeed; I can do without,’ said the young lady, with great eagerness. ‘Why, how are we to do without?’ urged her father, not speaking above his breath. ‘Three or four weeks, Madeline! Three or four weeks!’ ‘Then sooner, sooner, if you please,’ said the young lady, turning to Nicholas. ‘Three or four weeks!’ muttered the father. ‘Madeline, what on earth--do nothing for three or four weeks!’ ‘It is a long time, ma’am,’ said Nicholas. ‘You think so, do you?’ retorted the father, angrily. ‘If I chose to beg, sir, and stoop to ask assistance from people I despise, three or four months would not be a long time; three or four years would not be a long time. Understand, sir, that is if I chose to be dependent; but as I don’t, you may call in a week.’ Nicholas bowed low to the young lady and retired, pondering upon Mr Bray’s ideas of independence, and devoutly hoping that |
