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world had ever produced； upon the noblest and most beautiful maiden
that ever turned grim London town into a fairy city of enchanted ways。
Not at first could Miss Appleyard entirely grasp it； not till hours later；
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when she sat alone in her own room； where； fortunately for himself；
Grindley junior was not； did the whole force and meaning of the thing
come home to her。 It was a large room； taking up half of the top story
of the big Georgian house in Nevill's Court； but even as it was； Miss
Appleyard felt cramped。
〃For a yearfor nearly a whole year；〃 said Miss Appleyard；
addressing the bust of William Shakespeare； 〃have I been slaving my life
out； teaching him elementary Latin and the first five books of Euclid！〃
As it has been remarked； it was fortunate for Grindley junior he was
out of reach。 The bust of William Shakespeare maintained its irritating
aspect of benign philosophy。
〃I suppose I should；〃 mused Miss Appleyard； 〃if he had told me at
firstas he ought to have told meof course I should naturally have had
nothing more to do with him。 I suppose；〃 mused Miss Appleyard； 〃a
man in love； if he is really in love； doesn't quite know what he's doing。
I suppose one ought to make allowances。 But； oh！ when I think of it〃
And then Grindley junior's guardian angel must surely have slipped
into the room； for Miss Appleyard； irritated beyond endurance at the
philosophical indifference of the bust of William Shakespeare； turned
away from it； and as she did so； caught sight of herself in the looking…
glass。 Miss Appleyard approached the glass a little nearer。 A
woman's hair is never quite as it should be。 Miss Appleyard； standing
before the glass； began； she knew not why； to find reasons excusing
Grindley junior。 After all； was not forgiveness an excellent thing in
woman？ None of us are quite perfect。 The guardian angel of
Grindley junior seized the opportunity。
That evening Solomon Appleyard sat upright in his chair； feeling
confused。 So far as he could understand it； a certain young man； a
grocer's assistant； but not a grocer's assistantbut that； of course； was not
his fault； his father being an old brutehad behaved most abominably；
but not； on reflection； as badly as he might have done； and had acted on
the whole very honourably； taking into consideration the fact that one
supposed he could hardly help it。 Helvetia was； of course； very
indignant with him； but on the other hand； did not quite see what else
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she could have done； she being not at all sure whether she really cared
for him or whether she didn't； that everything had been quite proper and
would not have happened if she had known it； that everything was her
fault； except most things； which weren't； but that of the two she blamed
herself entirely； seeing that she could not have guessed anything of the
kind。 And did he； Solomon Appleyard； think that she ought to be very
angry and never marry anybody else； or was she justified in overlooking
it and engaging herself to the only man she felt she could ever love？
〃You mustn't think； Dad； that I meant to deceive you。 I should have
told you at the beginningyou know I wouldif it hadn't all happened so
suddenly。〃
〃Let me see；〃 said Solomon Appleyard； 〃did you tell me his name； or
didn't you？〃
〃Nathaniel；〃 said Miss Appleyard。 〃Didn't I mention it？〃
〃Don't happen to know his surname； do you；〃 inquired her father。
〃Grindley；〃 explained Miss Appleyard〃the son of Grindley； the
Sauce man。〃
Miss Appleyard experienced one of the surprises of her life。 Never
before to her recollection had her father thwarted a single wish of her
life。 A widower for the last twelve years； his chief delight had been to
humour her。 His voice； as he passionately swore that never with his
consent should his daughter marry the son of Hezekiah Grindley；
sounded strange to her。 Pleadings； even tears； for the first time in her
life proved fruitless。
Here was a pretty kettle of fish！ That Grindley junior should defy
his own parent； risk possibly the loss of his inheritance； had seemed to
both a not improper proceeding。 When Nathaniel George had said with
fine enthusiasm： 〃Let him keep his money if he will； I'll make my own
way； there isn't enough money in the world to pay for losing you！〃
Janet Helvetia； though she had expressed disapproval of such unfilial
attitude； had in secret sympathised。 But for her to disregard the wishes
of her own doting father was not to be thought of。 What was to be
done？
Perhaps one Peter Hope； residing in Gough Square hard by； might
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help young folks in sore dilemma with wise counsel。 Peter Hope；
editor and part proprietor of Good Humour； one penny weekly； was
much esteemed by Solomon Appleyard； printer and publisher of
aforesaid paper。
〃A good fellow； old Hope；〃 Solomon would often impress upon his
managing clerk。 〃Don't worry him more than you can help； things will
improve。 We can trust him。〃
Peter Hope sat at his desk； facing Miss Appleyard。 Grindley junior
sat on the cushioned seat beneath the middle window。 Good Humour's
sub…editor stood before the fire； her hands behind her back。
The case appeared to Peter Hope to be one of exceeding difficulty。
〃Of course；〃 explained Miss Appleyard； 〃I shall never marry without
my father's consent。〃
Peter Hope thought the resolution most proper。
〃On the other hand；〃 continued Miss Appleyard； 〃nothing shall
induce me to marry a man I do not love。〃 Miss Appleyard thought the
probabilities were that she would end by becoming a female missionary。
Peter Hope's experience had led him to the conclusion that young
people sometimes changed their mind。
The opinion of the House； clearly though silently expressed； was that
Peter Hope's experience； as regarded this particular case； counted for
nothing。
〃I shall go straight to the Governor；〃 explained Grindley junior； 〃and
tell him that I consider myself engaged for life to Miss Appleyard。 I
know what will happenI know the sort of idea he has got into his head。
He will disown me； and I shall go off to Africa。〃
Peter Hope was unable to see how Grindley junior's disappearance
into the wilds of Africa was going to assist the matter under discussion。
Grindley junior's view was that the wilds of Africa would afford a
fitting background to the passing away of a blighted existence。
Peter Hope had a suspicion that Grindley junior had for the moment
parted company with that sweet reasonableness that otherwise； so Peter
Hope felt sure； was Grindley junior's guiding star。
〃I mean it； sir；〃 reasserted Grindley junior。 〃I am〃 Grindley junior
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was about to add 〃well educated〃； but divining that education was