Evan Harrington — Volume 2 by George Meredith
page 15 of 102 (14%)
page 15 of 102 (14%)
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Andrew added, with a wave of the hand: 'Out of a sort of feeling for his sisters--I like him for it. Now what I want to ask you, Tom, is, whether we can't assist him in some way! Why couldn't we take him into our office, and fix him there, eh? If he works well--we're both getting old, and my brats are chicks--we might, by-and-by, give him a share.' 'Make a brewer of him? Ha! there'd be another mighty sacrifice for his pride!' 'Come, come, Tom,' said Andrew, 'he's my wife's brother, and I'm yours; and--there, you know what women are. They like to preserve appearances: we ought to consider them.' 'Preserve appearances!' echoed Tom: 'ha! who'll do that for them better than a tailor?' Andrew was an impatient little man, fitter for a kind action than to plead a cause. Jeering jarred on him; and from the moment his brother began it, he was of small service to Evan. He flung back against the partition of the compound, rattling it to the disturbance of many a quiet digestion. 'Tom,' he cried, 'I believe you're a screw!' 'Never said I wasn't,' rejoined Tom, as he finished his glass. 'I 'm a bachelor, and a person--you're married, and an object. I won't have the tailor's family at my coat-tails.' Do you mean to say, Tom, you don't like the young fellow? The Countess |
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