A Social Highwayman (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos or missing text. Not indexed. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1895. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII MR. HARLEY did arrive that afternoon. While I was dressing my master for dinner he knocked at the door and came in. The gentlemen had already met below-stairs, but a renewal of greetings was now warmly exchanged between them. Mr. Harley was looking finely. Evidently his ocean voyages had had results quite contrary to those I had hoped for. The resemblance which I had used to think existed between him and my master was now scarcely perceptible excepting as regarded height, coloring, and general aspect, for in the same ratio in which Mr. Harley had grown bronzed, strong, and healthy my master had become thin, wan, and pale. I was quite surprised that I had not noticed before the change which had taken place in him. But, on thinking it over since, I have concluded that his high spirits blinded me to his physical condition. Now, beside Mr. Harley he appeared like shadow beside substance, and I was quite shocked to see how low he had got to be beneath my very eyes. Mr. Harley had evidently noticed it at once, for he now excused his visit by remarking, --' I say, Courty, old man, I dropped in for just a minute to ask what you have been doing with yourself. You're looking awfully seedy, old chap; and we can't have that, you know." He was evidently considerably concerned, but Mr. Jaffrey laughed his anxiety away. "Seedy " he repeated. "Oh-er, you've been associating with-er sailors for a week or so, Harley, and-er are not used to our refined social pallor, that's all. I'm no end fit, old chappie, and-er putting in a quite awfully good time down here." "I see the freeze-out still continues," Mr. Harley said, with an attempt at a careless laugh. "B-r-r-r I positively shivered when Key and Bettall greeted me.' Mr. Jaffrey turned to me. "You may-er go, Hanb...