The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Gentleman's Gentleman, by F. Hopkinson Smith

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Title: A Gentleman's Gentleman
1909

Author: F. Hopkinson Smith

Release Date: December 3, 2007 [EBook #23696]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A GENTLEMAN'S GENTLEMAN ***

Produced by David Widger

A GENTLEMAN'S GENTLEMAN

By F. Hopkinson Smith

1909

I

I had left Sandy MacWhirter crooning over his smouldering wood fire the
day Boggs blew in with news of the sale of Mac's two pictures at the
Academy, and his reply to my inquiry regarding his future plans (vaguely
connected with a certain girl in a steamer chair), "By the next steamer,
my boy," still rang in my ears, but my surprise was none the
less genuine when I looked up from my easel, two months later, at
Sonning-on-the-Thames and caught sight of the dear fellow, with Lonnegan
by his side, striding down the tow-path in search of me.

"By the Great Horn Spoon!" came the cry. And the next minute his big
arms were about my shoulders, his cheery laugh filling the summer air.

Lonnegan's greeting was equally hearty and spontaneous, but it came with
less noise.

"He's been roaring that way ever since we left London," said the
architect. "Ever since we landed, really," and he nodded at Mac.
"Awfully glad to see you, old man!"

The next moment the three of us were flat on the grass telling our
experiences, the silver sheen of the river flashing between the
low-branched trees lining the banks.

Lonnegan's story ran thus:

Mac had disappeared the morning after their arrival; had remained away
two weeks, reappearing again with a grin on his face that had frozen
stiff and had never relaxed its grip. "You can still see it; turn your
head, Mac, and let the gentleman see your smile." Since that time he had
spent his nights writing letters, and his days poring aver the morning's
mail. "Got his pocket full of them now, and is so happy he's no sort of
use to anybody." Mac now got his innings:

Lonnegan's airs had been insufferable and his ignorance colossal. What
time he could spare from his English tailor--"and you just ought to see
his clot