His Grace — page 171: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

HIS GRACE. 165 consolatory, instead of returning, in surly accents, ‘Well, well, you told me that before, you know, and there’s nothing more to be said about it. All you have to do is to write and tell him what you have told me.” She answered very meekly that she would do so. I can’t tell why she thought it necessary to enter upon an elaborate vindication of Mr. Burgess’s character, to which I lent an inattentive ear. She was still engaged in extolling the worth of one who had always seemed to me to be about as worthless a member of the com- munity as a respectable parish priest can be, when a fly was seen to drive up to the front-door, whence pres- ently descended a burly figure familiar to both of us. “‘Good Heavens, Phil, there he is!” ejaculated Nora, turning pale with consternation. “And a very good thing too,” said I. “ Lady Dev- erell has sent him here to ask you what you mean by it, and in less than five minutes you can give him the de- sired information. He will lunch with us, and after luncheon I shall leave you alone—for five minutes. Now mind, Nora, he has no right to be inquisitorial or to demand reasons. One reason is quite sufficient for him, and I do implore you not to let him have more than one. If you do, you will be sorry for it after- wards.” The caution may have been superfluous and may also have been a little unfeeling ; but I could not for- bear from uttering it, and I had no time to be more ex- plicit; because Mr. Burgess was already advancing to- wards us across the lawn, holding out both his huge white hands. I got the left one, and dropped it imme- diately after it had touched mine. He profited by its release to place it upon the top of Nora’s, which he Eomicboo cS (E(o)