shoulders, laughs, and waves his right arm.

'No; don't put the sentiment away, Jack; please don't; for I am
very much in earnest. I have no doubt that that unhealthy state of
mind which you have so powerfully described is attended with some
real suffering, and is hard to bear. But let me reassure you,
Jack, as to the chances of its overcoming me. I don't think I am
in the way of it. In some few months less than another year, you
know, I shall carry Pussy off from school as Mrs. Edwin Drood. I
shall then go engineering into the East, and Pussy with me. And
although we have our little tiffs now, arising out of a certain
unavoidable flatness that attends our love-making, owing to its end
being all settled beforehand, still I have no doubt of our getting
on capitally then, when it's done and can't be helped. In short,
Jack, to go back to the old song I was freely quoting at dinner
(and who knows old songs better than you?), my wife shall dance,
and I will sing, so merrily pass the day. Of Pussy's being
beautiful there cannot be a doubt;--and when you are good besides,
Little Miss Impudence,' once more apostrophising the portrait,
'I'll burn your comic likeness, and paint your music-master
another.'

Mr. Jasper, with his hand to his chin, and with an expression of
musing benevolence on his face, has attentively watched every
animated look and gesture attending the delivery of these words.
He remains in that attitude after they, are spoken, as if in a kind
of fascination attendant on his strong interest in the youthful
spirit that he loves so well. Then he says with a quiet smile:

'You won't be warned, then?'