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- Dawn Lindsey Na próbć™
- 002 The Old Republic Revan Karpyshyn Drew
- Alan Dean Foster The End of the Matter
- Day Leclaire Noc cudów
- Goethe Werther
- 054 Z Czerwonego Bractwa
- Fluiddesignsecrets
- Laurell K. Hamilton MD 01 A Kiss Of Shadows
- Eden Cole Heal my Wolf
- Ostatni calus dla mamy Watson Casey
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ma am, and he has come across as if he was going to knock. That is
his knock, ma am, no doubt. He stepped to the window; and
looking out, and drawing in his head again, confirmed himself
with, Yes, ma am. Would you wish the gentleman to be shown in,
ma am? I don t know who it can be, said Mrs Sparsit, wiping her
mouth and arranging her mittens.
A stranger, ma am, evidently. What a stranger can want at the
Bank at this time of the evening, unless he comes upon some
business for which he is too late, I don t know, said Mrs Sparsit;
but I hold a charge in this establishment from Mr Bounderby, and
I will never shrink from it. If to see him is any part of the duty I
have accepted, I will see him. Use your own discretion, Bitzer.
Here, the visitor, all unconscious of Mrs Sparsit s magnanimous
words, repeated his knock so loudly that the light porter hastened
down to open the door; while Mrs Sparsit took the precaution of
concealing her little table, with all its appliances upon it, in a
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cupboard, and then decamped up stairs that she might appear, if
needful, with the greater dignity.
If you please, ma am, the gentleman would wish to see you, said
Bitzer, with his light eye at Mrs Sparsit s keyhole. So, Mrs Sparsit,
who had improved the interval by touching up her cap, took her
classical features down stairs again, and entered the boardroom in
the manner of a Roman matron going outside the city walls to treat
with an invading general.
The visitor having strolled to the window, and being then engaged
in looking carelessly out, was as unmoved by this impressive entry
as man could possibly be. He stood whistling to himself with all
imaginable coolness, with his hat still on, and a certain air of
exhaustion upon him, in part arising from excessive summer, and
in part from excessive gentility. For, it was to be seen with half an
eye that he was a thorough gentleman, made to the model of the
time; weary of everything and putting no more faith in anything
than Lucifer.
I believe, sir, quoth Mrs Sparsit, you wished to see me. I beg
your pardon, he said, turning and removing his hat; pray excuse
me. Humph! thought Mrs Sparsit, as she made a stately bend.
Five and thirty, good-looking, good figure, good teeth, good voice,
good breeding, well-dressed, dark hair, bold eyes. All which Mrs
Sparsit observed in her womanly way- like the Sultan who put his
head in the pail of water- merely in dipping down and coming up
again.
Please to be seated, sir, said Mrs Sparsit.
Thank you. Allow me. He placed a chair for her, but remained
himself carelessly lounging against the table. I left my servant at
the railway looking after the luggage- very heavy train and vast
quantity of it in the van- and strolled on, looking about me.
Exceedingly odd place. Will you allow me to ask you if it s always
as black as this? In general much blacker, returned Mrs Sparsit,
in her uncompromising way.
Is it possible! Excuse me: you are not a native, I think? No, sir,
returned Mrs Sparsit. It was once my good or ill fortune, as it may
be- before I became a widow- to move in a very different sphere.
My husband was a Powler. Beg your pardon, really! said the
stranger. Was-? Mrs Sparsit repeated, A Powler. Powler
Family, said the stranger, after reflecting a few moments. Mrs
Sparsit signified assent. The stranger seemed a little more fatigued
than before.
You must be very much bored here? was the inference he drew
from the communication.
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I am the servant of circumstances, sir, said Mrs Sparsit, and I
have long adapted myself to the governing power of my life. Very
philosophical, returned the stranger, and very exemplary and
laudable, and- It seemed to be scarcely worth his while to finish
the sentence, so he played with his watch-chain wearily.
May I be permitted to ask, sir, said Mrs Sparsit, to what I am
indebted for the favour of- Assuredly, said the stranger. Much
obliged to you for reminding me. I am the bearer of a letter of
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