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be visited. And take notes of their house and furniture, for I like to hear your description when you come back. I fancy they are very rich and very orthodox, and you will have tea there. By the bye,’ continued Clare, with sudden interest, ‘I wonder if they will give you Christian tea? I have half a mind to go with you on the chance. But no! I don’t suppose there are three women in this place who know how to make tea, and one of them is here. They will give you milk and water, slops or wish-wash, but certainly not tea.’
“‘Don’t you want to see the beauty, “My niece, Mrs. Austin”? We have heard enough of her praises lately. Do come along and help me through with it.’
“‘Oh no, not to-day. My head is worse again. I ought not to talk even. But I think I will strum a little on the piano when you are gone and the house is quiet. I have a tune in my head that would go with poor Heine’s words—
The faithful one wearied me out and out.’
There you have a whole French novel, fin de siècle and all, without the bother of reading it.’
“‘The rhyme isn’t quite right. How would “wealthier lout” do?’