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"They'll expect you to take a cup of tea the first night," said Cradell; but Eames declared that they might expect it. "I'm in no humour for it," said he. "I'll tell you what, Cradell, I shall leave this place, and take rooms for myself somewhere. I'll never go into a lodging-house again." As he so spoke, he was standing at the dining-room door; but he was not allowed to escape in this easy way.
"We all thought you was run away." "It's Mrs Lupex," said Amelia. And in two minutes more that ill-used lady was in the room. "Well, my dears," said she, gaily, "I hope nobody has waited dinner." "No; we didn't wait dinner," said Mrs Roper, very gravely. "And where's my Orson? Didn't he dine at home? Mr Cradell, will you oblige me by taking my shawl? But perhaps you had better not.
What are you going on for in this way with that young man, till you'll drive your husband into a madhouse with drink and jealousy?" "Miss Roper! Miss Roper!" said Cradell; "now really " "Don't mind her, Mr Cradell," said Mrs Lupex; "she's not worthy for you to speak to. And as to that poor fellow Eames, if you've any friendship for him, you'll let him know what she is.
And she was troubled, too, about her own daughter Amelia, who was already over thirty years of age. Amelia was a very clever young woman, who had been, if the truth must be told, first young lady at a millinery establishment in Manchester. Mrs Roper knew that Mrs Eames and Mrs Cradell would not wish their sons to associate with her daughter. But what could she do?
"And I do not hesitate to say that my regard for her was too much for me on that night when I sent for you to the dining-room." "I'm glad it's all put right now," said Cradell. "Very glad, indeed," said Miss Spruce. "And, therefore, we need not say any more about it," said Mrs Lupex. "One word," said Lupex, waving his hand.
"You don't mean that old Huffle Scuffle has given it out of his own head?" said Fisher. "Indeed he has," said Johnny; "and bade God bless me into the bargain." "And you didn't give him the oysters?" said FitzHoward. "Not a shell," said Johnny. "I'm blessed if you don't beat cock-fighting," said Cradell, lost in admiration at his friend's adroitness. We know how John passed his evening after that.
"Amelia, what's all this?" said Mrs Roper, trying to assume a look of agonised amazement. "Ask Mrs Lupex," said Amelia. "And Mrs Lupex will answer," said that lady. "Your daughter has come in here, and attacked me in such language before Mr Cradell too " "Why doesn't she pay what she owes, and leave the house?" said Amelia. "Hold your tongue," said her brother.
They had together eaten a sweetbread, with some other delicacies of the season, in the neighbourhood of the theatre, and had washed down all unkindness with bitter beer and brandy-and-water. But of this reconciliation Cradell had not heard; and when he saw them come together into the drawing-room, a few minutes after the question he had addressed to Miss Spruce, he was certainly surprised.
First came Cradell, and leaning on his arm, I regret to say, was Mrs Lupex Egyptia conjux! Then there came Miss Spruce with young Roper; Amelia and her mother brought up the rear together. There was no longer question of flight now; and poor Eames, before he knew what he was doing, was carried down into the dining-room with the rest of the company.
Cradell, therefore, did not settle the day for the little dinner; but merely remarked that he should be very happy at some future day. "And now, Lupex, suppose you get off to bed," said his wife. "You've had a very trying day, you know." "And you, ducky?" "I shall come presently. Now don't be making a fool of yourself, but get yourself off.
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