Do you want
to know how baby is? Why don't you ask, then, as you ought to do the
first thing? He's a good deal better than he deserves to be, young
rascal--all the trouble he gives me! He's fast asleep, I'm glad to
say, so you can't see him. Sam'll be back in a few minutes; at least
I expect him, but there's no knowin' nowadays when lie can leave the
warehouse. What's brought you to-night, I wonder? You needn't tell
me anything about the Upper Street business; _I_ know all about
_that_!'
'Oh, do you? From Clara herself?'
'Yes. Don't talk to me about her! There! I'm sick an tired of her--
an' so are you, I should think, if you've any sense left. Her an' me
can't get along, an' that's the truth. Why, when I met her on Sunday
afternoon, she was that patronisin' you'd have thought she'd got a
place in Windsor Castle. Would she come an' have a cup of tea? Oh
dear, no! Hadn't time! The Princess of Wales, I suppose, was waitin'
round the corner!'
Having so relieved her mind, Mrs. Byass laughed with a genuine
gaiety which proved how little malice there was in her satire.
Sidney could not refuse a smile, but it was a gloomy one.
'I'm not sure you've done all you might have to keep her friends
with you,' he said seriously, but with a good-natured look.
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