Page 54 - Fairbrass

met a friend—an earnest-eyed and kindly-
looking gentleman, who, grasping him

cordially by the hand, expressed a hope that

his business was progressing. u Don’t ask
me,” said your father sadly. <( I am hope­
less—hopeless.1’

‘ And then he took me into his club.
It would be difficult for me to tell you,

Fairbrass, what a beautiful place your
father's club is. There is> to begin with,

a splendid entrance hall, and you go from
that upstairs and down into richly decorated

and finely furnished rooms for reading,
writing, lunching, dining, smoking, and

playing cards and billiards in. Your father,
who seemed to have friends everywhere,

took me into all these rooms, and I felt
quite bewildered until he sat down at a table

where a party of merry gentlemen, who were
eating and drinking, welcomed him, and

where he, too, made a meal.1
* What did he have ? * asked the Old
Picotee, who was of a very curious turn of

mind.