12/21 If he is at all civilised we will have him to dinner." "By all means," said Miss Skeat with alacrity. She liked intelligent society, and the Countess had of late indulged in a rather prolonged fit of solitude. Miss Skeat took the last novel--one of Tourgueneff's--from the table and, armed with a paper-cutter, began to read to her ladyship. The Doctor looked up pleasantly at his friend. He could almost fancy he had missed his society a little; but the sensation was too novel a one to be believed genuine. |