On the other hand this gentleman would clearly be old--what was it?
the fellow Vanderbank had made it a matter of such importance he should "really know." But were they then simply to have tea there together?
No; the candidate for Mr.Mitchett's acquaintance, as if quickly guessing his apprehension, mentioned on the spot that their entertainer would be with them: he had just come home in a hurry, fearing he was late, and then had rushed off to make a change.
"Fortunately," said the speaker, who offered his explanation as if he had had it on his mind--"fortunately the ladies haven't yet come." "Oh there ARE to be ladies ?"--Mr.Mitchett was all response.

His fellow guest, who was shy and apparently nervous, sidled about a little, swinging an eye-glass, yet glancing in a manner a trifle birdlike from object to object.

"Mrs.Edward Brookenham I think." "Oh!" Mitchy himself felt, as soon as this comment had quitted his lips, that it might sound even to a stranger like a sign, such as the votaries of Mrs.Edward Brookenham had fallen into the way of constantly throwing off, that he recognised her hand in the matter.

There was, however, something in his entertainer's face that somehow encouraged frankness; it had the sociability of surprise--it hadn't the chill.

Mitchy saw at the same time that this friend of old Van's would never really understand him; though that was a thing he at times liked people as much for as he liked them little for it at others.