212520_The_Adve ... _Way_Through_The_World.pdf - OUDL Home

250 THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIP
said of him afterwards,—"I trembled for my dear gentle child,
united for ever to a man of that violence. Never, in my secret
mind, could I think that their union could be a happy one. Besides,
you know, the nearness of their relationship. My scruples on that
score, dear Mrs. Candour, never, never could be quite got over."
And these scruples came to weigh whole tons, when Mangrove Hall,
the house in Berkeley Square, and Mr. Woolcomb's West India
island were put into the scale along with them.
Of course there was no good in remaining amongst those damp
reeking timbers, now that the pretty little tete-a-tete was over.
Little Brownie hung fondling and whining round Philip's ankles, as
the party ascended to the upper air. " My child, how pale you
look !" cries Mrs. Penfold, putting down her volume. Out of the
Captain's opal eyeballs shot lurid flames, and hot blood burned
behind his yellow cheeks. In a quarrel Mr. Philip Firmin could
be particularly cool and self-possessed. When Miss Agnes rather
piteously introduced him to Mrs. Penfold, he made a bow as polite
and gracious as any performed by his Royal father. " My little
dog knew me," he said, caressing the animal. " She is a faithful
little thing, and she led me down to my cousin; and—Captain
Woolcomb, I think, is your name, sir ?"
As Philip curls his moustache and smiles blandly, Captain
Woolcomb pulls his and scowls fiercely. "Yes, sir," he mutters,
"my name is Woolcomb." Another bow and a touch of the hat
from Mr. Firmin. A touch?—a gracious wave of the hat; acknowledged
by no means so gracefully by Captain Woolcomb.
To these remarks Mrs. Penfold says, " Oh !" In fact, " Oh !"
is about the best thing that could be said under the circumstances.
" My cousin, Miss Twysden, looks so pale because she was out
very late dancing last night. I hear it was a very pretty ball.
But ought she to keep such late hours, Mrs. Penfold, with her
delicate health ? Indeed, you ought not, Agnes! Ought she to
keep late hours, Brownie ! There—don't, you little foolish thing !
I gave my cousin the dog : and she's very fond of me—the dog is—
still. You were saying, Captain Woolcomb, when I came up, that
you would give Miss Twysden a dog on whose nose you could hang
your ________ I beg pardon ?"
Mr. Woolcomb, as Philip made this second allusion to the
peculiar nasal formation of the pug, ground his little white teeth
together, and let slip a most improper monosyllable. More acute
bronchial suffering was manifested on the part of Miss Twysden.
Mrs. Penfold said, " The day is clouding over. I think, Agnes, I
will have my chair, and go home."
" May I be allowed to walk with you as far as your house ?"