No, but can't you read between the lines, Æneas? That is the letter of a woman who is not at all well.
All right, my darling, if you are bent upon going I will accompany you.
Certainly not, Æneas--Charlotte insists on being my companion; we can keep each other warm in a closed cab.
Don't be so forgetful, Æneas--don't you know that in a four-wheeled cab, the fewer knees there are the better.
Your mother and Miss Verrinder are going out.
Good gracious, what a boy! No, Cis, your mother is merely going to sit by Lady Jenkins' bedside, to hold her hand, and to tell her where one goes to--to buy pocket-handkerchiefs.
By Jove! The mater can't be home again till half-past twelve or one o'clock.
Much later if Lady Jenkins' condition is alarming.
Hurray! [_He takes the watch out of MR. POSKET'S pocket._] Just half-past ten. Greenwich mean, eh, Guv?
[_He puts the watch to his ear, pulling MR. POSKET towards him by the chain._
[_Returning watch._] Thanks. They have to get from here to Campden Hill and back again. I'll tell Wyke to get them the worst horse on the rank.
Three-quarters of an hour's journey from here at least. Twice three-quarters, one hour and a half. An hour with Lady Jenkins--when women get together, you know, Guv, they do talk--that's two hours and a half. Good. Guv, will you come with me?
Hotel des Princes, Meek Street. A sharp hansom does it in ten minutes.
Meek Street, Hotel des Princes! Child, do you know what you're talking about?
Rather. Look here, Guv, honour bright--no blab if I show you a letter.
You won't! Do you know, Guv, you are doing a very unwise thing to check the confidence of a lad like me?
Can you calculate the inestimable benefit it is to a youngster to have some one always at his elbow, some one older, wiser, and better off than himself?
Of course, Cis, of course, I _want_ you to make a companion of me.
Then how the deuce can I do that if you won't come with me to Meek Street?
_Deceiving_ the mater would be to tell her a crammer--a thing, I hope, we're both of us much above.
_Concealing_ the fact that we're going to have a bit of supper at the Hotel des Princes, is doing my mother a great kindness, because it would upset her considerably to know of the circumstances. You've been wrong, Guv, but we won't say anything more about that. Read the letter.