side.Foriftheexaltationlastedweshouldbeblownlikefoamintotheair.Thestarswouldshinethroughus.Weshouldgodownthegaleinsaltdrops—assometimeshappens.Fortheimpetuousspiritswillhavenoneofthiscradling.Neveranyswayingoraimlesslylollingforthem.Neveranymakingbelieve,orlyingcosily,orgeniallysupposingthatoneismuchlikeanother,firewarm,winepleasant,extravaganceasin.
"Peoplearesonice,onceyouknowthem."
"Icouldn'tthinkillofher.Onemustremember—"ButNickperhaps,orFannyElmer,believingimplicitlyinthetruthofthemoment,flingoff,stingthecheek,aregonelikesharphail.
"Oh,"saidFanny,burstingintothestudiothree-quartersofanhourlatebecauseshehadbeenhangingabouttheneighbourhoodoftheFoundlingHospitalmerelyforthechanceofseeingJacobwalkdownthestreet,takeouthislatch-key,andopenthedoor,"I'mafraidI'mlate"uponwhichNicksaidnothingandFannygrewdefiant.
"I'llnevercomeagain!"shecriedatlength.
"Don't,then,"Nickreplied,andoffsheranwithoutsomuchasgood-night.
Howexquisiteitwas—thatdressinEvelina'sshopoffShaftesburyAvenue!Itwasfouro'clockonafinedayearlyinApril,andwasFannytheonetospendfouro'clockonafinedayindoors?Othergirlsinthatverystreetsatoverledgers,ordrewlongthreadswearilybetweensilkandgauzeor,festoonedwithribbonsinSwanandEdgars,rapidlyaddeduppenceandfarthingsonthebackofthebillandtwistedtheyardandthree-quartersintissuepaperandasked"Yourpleasure?"ofthenextcomer.
InEvelina'sshopoffShaftesburyAvenuethepartsofawomanwereshownseparate.Inthelefthandwasherskirt.Twiningroundapoleinthemiddlewasafeatherboa.RangedliketheheadsofmalefactorsonTempleBarwerehats—emeraldandwhite,lightlywreathedordroopingbeneathdeep-dyedfeathers.Andonthecarpetwereherfeet—pointedgold,orpatentleatherslashedwithscarlet.
Feasteduponbytheeyesofwomen,theclothesbyfouro'clockwereflyblownlikesugarcakesinabaker'swindow.Fannyeyedthemtoo.ButcomingalongGerrardStreetwasatallmaninashabbycoat.AshadowfellacrossEvelina'swindow—Jacob'sshadow,thoughitwasnotJacob.AndFannyturnedandwalkedalongGerrardStreetand