Anthony Hope

“ If Prudence loves, what other boon need I?
"Splendid!" he cried, puffing at his empty pipe.
Unless a bishop's palace by-and-by?
This audacious departure from the original affected him powerfully. He laid a hand like a pair of tweezers on my wrist and cried excitedly——
"You've been talking to her!"
"So have you," said I, "and to better purpose."
By a subtle and rapid movement he was, in a moment, outside the door and stood facing me in the little front garden of the post-office.
"I shouldn't wonder if they began tennis before tea," he remarked.
"You'll find somebody to play a single. ”

“ Davenport. As he spoke he approached the window: I sat down on the sill outside and lit a cigar.
"Curiously enough indeed!" said I. "May I be privileged to hear it?"
He threw out one arm and recited——
All Heaven's with us, so we Prudence win:
If Fortune's hailed a goddess ours the sin!
"Pretty well for the spirit, but none too faithful to the letter," I remarked critically. "However, Dr. Johnson is open to the same objection. You remember——
Celestial Wisdom calms the mind, And makes the happiness she does not find. ”

“ My tone indicated great surprise: her mother is the vicar's wife, and the alleged counsel seemed unpastoral.
"Yes—and it's quite right too," Prudence maintained. "You know how poor we are. And there are eight of us!"
"Five and three?"
"Yes: Johnny at Oxford, Dick at school, and Clarence to go soon! And the girls—you know what girls cost, anyhow!" ”