BOOK THE THIRD: A LONG LANE
Chapter 12: Meaning Mischief (continued)
'O yes!' Here Mrs Lammle brought her handkerchief into play.
'And you know, dear Mr Fledgeby--you who study the human
heart, and study the world--what an affliction it would be to lose
position and to lose credit, when ability to tide over a very short
time might save all appearances.'
'Oh!' said Fledgeby. 'Then you think, Mrs Lammle, that if Lammle
got time, he wouldn't burst up?--To use an expression,' Mr
Fledgeby apologetically explained, 'which is adopted in the Money
Market.'
'Indeed yes. Truly, truly, yes!'
'That makes all the difference,' said Fledgeby. 'I'll make a point of
seeing Riah at once.'
'Blessings on you, dearest Mr Fledgeby!'
'Not at all,' said Fledgeby. She gave him her hand. 'The hand,'
said Mr Fledgeby, 'of a lovely and superior-minded female is ever
the repayment of a--'
'Noble action!' said Mrs Lammle, extremely anxious to get rid of
him.
'It wasn't what I was going to say,' returned Fledgeby, who never
would, under any circumstances, accept a suggested expression,
'but you're very complimentary. May I imprint a--a one--upon it?
Good morning!'
'I may depend upon your promptitude, dearest Mr Fledgeby?'
Said Fledgeby, looking back at the door and respectfully kissing
his hand, 'You may depend upon it.'
In fact, Mr Fledgeby sped on his errand of mercy through the
streets, at so brisk a rate that his feet might have been winged by
all the good spirits that wait on Generosity. They might have taken
up their station in his breast, too, for he was blithe and merry.
There was quite a fresh trill in his voice, when, arriving at the
counting-house in St Mary Axe, and finding it for the moment
empty, he trolled forth at the foot of the staircase: 'Now, Judah,
what are you up to there?'
The old man appeared, with his accustomed deference.
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