By this time Mr.and Mrs.Trewen were returning from the garden.
Ill ask em flat,whispered John to his wife.Ill say,"We be in a fog--youll excuse my asking a question,Mr.and Mrs.
Trewen.How is it you all be so friendly to-day?"Hey?Twould sound right and sensible,wouldnt it?
Not a word!Good mercy,when will the man have manners!
It must be a proud moment for you,I am sure,Mr.and Mrs.Smith,to have a son so celebrated,said the bank-manager advancing.
Ah,tis Stephen--I knew it!said Mrs.Smith triumphantly to herself.
We dont know particulars,said John.
Not know!
No.
Why,tis all over town.Our worthy Mayor alluded to it in a speech at the dinner last night of the Every-Man-his-own-Maker Club.
And what about Stephen?urged Mrs.Smith.
Why,your son has been feted by deputy-governors and Parsee princes and nobody-knows-who in India;is hand in glove with nabobs,and is to design a large palace,and cathedral,and hospitals,colleges,halls,and fortifications,by the general consent of the ruling powers,Christian and Pagan alike.
Twas sure to come to the boy,said Mr.Smith unassumingly.
Tis in yesterdays St.Launces Chronicle;and our worthy Mayor in the chair introduced the subject into his speech last night in a masterly manner.
Twas very good of the worthy Mayor in the chair Im sure,said Stephens mother.I hope the boy will have the sense to keep what hes got;but as for men,they are a simple sex.Some woman will hook him.