 we to-morrow. On Friday I'll look you up. Stay, can't you dine with me
this evening? Anywhere you like. These ladies will be glad to be rid of me, and
to dine in peace at their hotel.«
    »O Mr. Malkin!« piped the widow, »you know how very far that is from the
truth. But we shall be very glad indeed to know that you are enjoying yourself
with Mr. Earwaker.«
    The friends made an appointment to meet near the Madeleine, and Earwaker
hastened to escape the sound of Mrs. Jacox's voice.
    Punctual at the rendezvous, Malkin talked with his wonted effusiveness as he
led towards the Café Anglais.
    »I've managed it, my boy! The most complete success! I had to run over to
Boston to get hold of a scoundrelly relative of that poor woman. You should have
seen how I came over him - partly dignified sternness, partly justifiable
cajolery. The affair only wanted some one to take it up in earnest. I have
secured her about a couple of hundred a year - withheld on the most paltry and
transparent pretences. They're going to live at Wrotham, in Kent, where Mrs.
Jacox has friends. I never thought myself so much of a man of business. Of
course old Haliburton, the lawyer, had a hand in it, but without my personal
energy it would have taken him a year longer. What do you think of the girls?
How do you like Bella?«
    »A pretty child.«
    »Child? Well, yes, yes - immature of course; but I'm rather in the habit of
thinking of her as a young lady. In three years she'll be seventeen, you know.
Of course you couldn't form a judgment of her character. She's quite remarkably
mature for her age; and, what delights me most of all, a sturdy Radical! She
takes the most intelligent interest in all political and social movements, I
assure you! There's a great deal of democratic fire in her.«
    »You're sure it isn't reflected from your own fervour?«
    »Not a bit of it! You should have seen her excitement when we were at the
Bastille Column yesterday. She'll make a splendid woman, I assure you. Lily's
very interesting, too - profoundly interesting. But then she is certainly very
young, so I can't feel so sure of her on the great questions. She hasn'
