Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

90 MAKING A PROMISE. “T mean that your brain’s clear—not that your head pains you, old chap. I’ve a piece of news for you.” Forrest surveyed his friend intently and then said: ‘“‘T don’t expect your news is good.’’ ‘“Soothsayer!’’ uttered Arthur, with a short laugh. ‘‘How did you guess? DoTI look so seedy?’’ ‘‘Well, I shouldn’t imagine, from your general appear- ance, that you feel as fresh as a daisy,’’ acknowledged Mr. Forrest, ‘‘nor as light as a cork.’’ ELON): bos ‘‘What’s wrong with you?”’ ‘*Dick,’’ said Arthur, abruptly, ‘‘you forced my confi- dence when I was going away once before, and now I come of my own free will to give it to you.’”’ Dick made no remark as his friend vouchsafed this in- formation. ‘‘T’m all gone to pieces,’’ went on Arthur, gloomily. ‘‘What’s up this time?’’ Dick did not evince any excitement as he put this ques- tion, although he could plainly see that his friend had worked himself up into something very like a temper. Long acquaintance with this young gentleman had taught him that, the cooler he kept when Arthur was about to un- burden his mind to him, the sooner a sensible conclusion was reached. Dick preferred to put it in that way; he de- spised ‘“‘advice givers’’ and declined to believe that an “ignoramus at twenty makes a sage at seventy.’’ What- ever counsel he gave (and he was very particular to whom he offered it), was givenin a manner so subtle and brother- ly that it was generally acted upon, or, at least, taken in the proper spirit, He saw at a glance, to-night, that Ar- Gomichbooks: com