did not think he was a lucky fellow. I don't
mind admitting that I did, and that I told him so.

Ah! but she was one of my sort, was that governess. Stood, to the best of
my recollection, five feet four. Good lissom figure, that looked as if it
had never been boxed up in a pair of stays. Eyes that made me feel as if I
was under a pretty stiff cross-examination the moment she looked at me.
Fine red, kiss-and-come-again sort of lips. Cheeks and complexion----

No, Mr. Artist, you wouldn't identify her by her cheeks and complexion, if
I drew you a picture of them this very moment. She has had a family of
children since the time I'm talking of; and her cheeks are a trifle
fatter, and her complexion is a shade or two redder now than when I first
met her out walking with Mr. Frank.

The marriage was to take place on a Wednesday. I decline mentioning the
year or the month. I had started as an attorney on my own account--say six
weeks, more or less, and was sitting alone in my office on the Monday
morning before the wedding-day, trying to see my way clear before me and
not succeeding particularly well, when Mr. Frank suddenly bursts in, as
white as any ghost that ever was painted, and says he's got the most
dreadful case for me to advise on, and not an hour to lose in acting on my
advice.

"Is this in the way of business, Mr. Frank?" says I, stopping him just as
he was beginning to get sentimental. "Yes or no, Mr. Frank?" rapping my
new office paper-knife on the table, to pull him up short all the sooner.

"My dear fellow"--he was always familiar with me--"it's in the way of
business, certainly; but friendship----"

I was obliged to pull him up short again, and regularly examine him as if
he had been in the witness-box, or he would have kept me talking to no
purpose half the day.

"Now, Mr. Frank," says I, "I can't have any sentimentality mixed up with
business matters. You please to stop talking, and let me ask questions.
Answer in the fewest words you can use. Nod when nodding will do instead
of words."

I fixed him with my eye for about three seconds, as he sat groaning and
wriggling in his chair. When I'd done fixing him I gave another rap with
my paper-knife on the table to startle him up a bit. Then I went on.

"From what you have been stating up to the present time," says I, "I
gather that you are in a scrape which is likely to interfere seriously
with your marriage on Wednesday?"

He nodded, and I cut in agai