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472 THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIP
always open when he was awake, or not hungry, or in a friend's
company. Besides his love, and his prospects in life, his poverty,
&c., Philip had other favourite topics of conversation. His friend
the Little Sister was a great theme with him ; his father was
another favourite subject of his talk. By the way, his father had
written to the Little Sister. The Doctor said he was sure to
prosper in his newly-adopted country. He and another physician
had invented a new medicine, which was to effect wonders, and in
a few years would assuredly make the fortune of both of them.
He was never without one scheme or another for making that
fortune which never came. Whenever he drew upon poor Philip
for little sums, his letters were sure to be especially magniloquent
and hopeful. "Whenever the Doctor says he has invented the
philosopher's stone," said poor Philip, " I am sure there will be a
postscript to say that a little bill will be presented for so much, at
so many days' date."
Had he drawn on Philip lately? Philip told us when, and
how often. We gave him all the benefit of our virtuous indignation.
As for my wife's eyes, they gleamed with anger. What a man :
what a father ! Oh, he was incorrigible ! " Yes, I am afraid he
is," says poor Phil comically, with his hands roaming at ease in
his pockets. They contained little else than those big hands.
" My father is of a hopeful turn. His views regarding property
are peculiar. It is a comfort to have such a distinguished parent,
isn't it? I am always surprised to hear that he is not married
again. I sigh for a mother-in law," Philip continued.
"Oh, don't, Philip!" cried Mrs. Laura, in a pet. "Be
generous : be forgiving : be noble : be Christian ! Don't be cynical,
and imitating—you know whom !"
Whom could she possibly mean, I wonder ? After flashes, there
came showers in this lady's eyes. From long habit I can understand
her thoughts, although she does not utter them. She was
thinking of those poor, noble, simple, friendless young people; and
asking Heaven's protection for them. I am not in the habit of
over-praising my friends, goodness knows. The foibles of this one
I have described honestly enough. But if I write down here that
he was courageous, cheerful in adversity, generous, simple, truthloving,
above a scheme—after having said that he was a noble
young fellow—dixi ; and I won't cancel the words.
Ardent lover as he was, our friend was glad to be back in the
midst of the London smoke, and wealth, and bustle. The fog
agreed with his lungs, he said. He breathed more freely in our
great city than in that little English village in the centre of Paris
which he had been inhabiting. In his hotel, and at his café (where