The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Bachelor's Dream, by Mrs. Hungerford

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Title: A Bachelor's Dream

Author: Mrs. Hungerford

Release Date: January 19, 2009 [EBook #27838]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BACHELOR'S DREAM ***

Produced by Daniel Fromont

[Transcriber's note: Mrs. Hungerford (1855?-1897), _A Bachelor's Dream_,
Prudential Book Co., no date of publication]

A BACHELOR'S DREAM

BY

THE DUCHESS

NEW YORK

THE PRUDENTIAL

BOOK CO.

A BACHELOR'S DREAM.

CHAPTER I.

"Now what can be done?" said the Doctor. "That's the question. What on
earth can I do about it?"

He put this question emphatically, with an energetic blow of his gloved
hand upon his knee, and seemed very desirous of receiving an answer,
although he was jogging along alone in his comfortable brougham. But
the Doctor was perplexed, and wanted some one to help him out of his
difficulty. He was a bachelor, and knew therefore that it was of no use
letting Patrick drive him home in search of a confidant, for at home
the ruling genius of his household was his housekeeper, Mrs. Jessop.
She was a most excellent creature, an invaluable manager of the house,
the tradespeople, and the maid-servants, and a splendid cook; the
Doctor appreciated her highly, but he was not disposed to ask her
advice or to invite her consolation.

He beat his knee a little harder, frowned more severely; finally let
down the window, put out his head, and called smartly:

"Patrick!"

"Sir." Patrick pulled up the slim, clean-limbed brown horse as quickly
as he could in the midst of the hurrying vehicles and hucksters' stalls
which are usually to be found in the Essex Road at about seven o'clock
on Saturday evening, and looked questioningly down at his master.

"Don't go home. Drive me to Petersham Villa," said Dr. Brudenell.

Patrick obeyed rather sulkily. He did not know what his master could
possibly want at Petersham Villa--where he had already been once that
day--and he did know that he himself was exceedingly hungry, and
desirous of getting home. He gave the brown horse an undeserve