第139章

’Certainly，mydear，’saidMrSparkler，andtookachaironthesamespot。

’IfIdidn’tknowthatthelongestdaywaspast，’saidFanny，yawninginadrearymanner，’Ishouldhavefeltcertainthiswasthelongestday。Ineverdidexperiencesuchaday。’

’Isthatyourfan，mylove？’askedMrSparkler，pickinguponeandpresentingit。

’Edmund，’returnedhiswife，morewearilyyet，’don’taskweakquestions，Ientreatyounot。Whosecanitbebutmine？’

’Yes，Ithoughtitwasyours，’saidMrSparkler。

’Thenyoushouldn’task，’retortedFanny。Afteralittlewhilesheturnedonhersofaandexclaimed，’Dearme，dearme，thereneverwassuchalongdayasthis!’Afteranotherlittlewhile，shegotupslowly，walkedabout，andcamebackagain。

’Mydear，’saidMrSparkler，flashingwithanoriginalconception，’Ithinkyoumusthavegotthefidgets。’

’Oh，Fidgets!’repeatedMrsSparkler。’Don’t。’

’Myadorablegirl，’urgedMrSparkler，’tryyouraromaticvinegar。

Ihaveoftenseenmymothertryit，anditseeminglyrefreshedher。

Andsheis，asIbelieveyouareaware，aremarkablyfinewoman，withnonon——’

’GoodGracious!’exclaimedFanny，startingupagain。’It’sbeyondallpatience!Thisisthemostwearisomedaythateverdiddawnupontheworld，Iamcertain。’

MrSparklerlookedmeeklyafterherassheloungedabouttheroom，andheappearedtobealittlefrightened。Whenshehadtossedafewtriflesabout，andhadlookeddownintothedarkeningstreetoutofallthethreewindows，shereturnedtohersofa，andthrewherselfamongitspillows。

’NowEdmund，comehere!Comealittlenearer，becauseIwanttobeabletotouchyouwithmyfan，thatImayimpressyouverymuchwithwhatIamgoingtosay。Thatwilldo。Quitecloseenough。

Oh，youdolooksobig!’

MrSparklerapologisedforthecircumstance，pleadedthathecouldn’thelpit，andsaidthat’ourfellows，’withoutmoreparticularlyindicatingwhosefellows，usedtocallhimbythenameofQuinbusFlestrin，Junior，ortheYoungManMountain。

’Yououghttohavetoldmesobefore，’Fannycomplained。

’Mydear，’returnedMrSparkler，rathergratified，’Ididn’tknowItwouldinterestyou，orIwouldhavemadeapointoftellingyou。’

’There!Forgoodnesssake，don’ttalk，’saidFanny；’Iwanttotalk，myself。Edmund，wemustnotbealoneanymore。ImusttakesuchprecautionsaswillpreventmybeingeveragainreducedtothestateofdreadfuldepressioninwhichIamthisevening。’

’Mydear，’answeredMrSparkler；’beingasyouarewellknowntobe，aremarkablyfinewomanwithno——’

’Oh，goodGRACIOUS!’criedFanny。

MrSparklerwassodiscomposedbytheenergyofthisexclamation，accompaniedwithaflouncingupfromthesofaandaflouncingdownagain，thataminuteortwoelapsedbeforehefelthimselfequaltosayinginexplanation：

’Imean，mydear，thateverybodyknowsyouarecalculatedtoshineinsociety。’

’Calculatedtoshineinsociety，’retortedFannywithgreatirritability；’yes，indeed!Andthenwhathappens？Inosoonerrecover，inavisitingpointofview，theshockofpoordearpapa’sdeath，andmypooruncle’s——thoughIdonotdisguisefrommyselfthatthelastwasahappyrelease，for，ifyouarenotpresentableyouhadmuchbetterdie——’

’Youarenotreferringtome，mylove，Ihope？’MrSparklerhumblyinterrupted。

’Edmund，Edmund，youwouldwear