Part 11 (2/2)
”Oh, I'rumbled therattle and jangle began
Chester's head was as blank as ever with regard to the past when the cab drew up at his home, but it was perfectly clear as to the present, and he was still hard at work trying to , hootten himself as to have drunk till he was absolutely imbecile, when the man opened the door
”One lass of brandy”
”You did, sir, and welkum it'll be as the flowers o' May Ju shower bath”
”Can you leave your horse?”
”Leave hiot hoofs like hanchors But I will hitch his nose-bag on, and let him see if he can find that there oat he was a-'untin' for in the chaff last time he had it on”
The next ; but he was not so giddy, and his first glance was at the hall clock, illuas
”Four o'clock,” he e!”
”May I coht if there don't co round If he ain't a fool he'll be under so a time like this”
”Shut the door, and come in here,” said Chester, shortly; and he led the way into his consulting-roolass, filled the latter for the cab a pool on the thick carpet, and then poured himself out a few drops from a small-stoppered bottle, added some water from a table filter, and tossed off the mixture
”Thank you, sir, and hope that there'll do you as ood as this here's done me a'ready Didn't know you was a doctor”
”Here's a crown for you,” said Chester, taking the money from a little drawer
”Five bob! Oh, thank ye, sir,” said the rin ”Makes a fellow feel quite dry Sorry for your carpet, sir Good-mornin' I don't think I want another fare”
As the door was closed after the an to have soh the black cloud which separated hiht
”The ht,” he muttered ”I must sleep Good heavens! What a state my brain is in!”
”Is that you, Fred?”
He started as if he had been stung, and the dawn brightened as he replied sharply--
”Yes, aunt; all right Go to bed Why are you up?”
There was no reply, and he turned the hall light nearly out again, and went into his consulting-rooas jet there the same, and sank into an easy-chair instead; but he had hardly allowed hiain, for there, in the open doorway, stood the grotesque figure of Aunt Grace, in broad-frilled, old-fashi+oned night-cap and dressing-gown, a flat candlestick in her hand, and a portentous frown upon her brow, as she walked straight to hi sharply as one slippered foot was planted in the pool left by the cab her slow, important march till she was about a yard away from her nephehen she stopped
”Why, aunt,” he cried, ”what's thein your sleep!”
”Matter?” she cried in a low, deep voice, full of the eraded boy! How dare you treat your poor sister and me like this?”
”Pooh! Hush!+ Nonsense, old lady It's all right I've been dining with a friend”
”With a friend!” she said, with cutting sarcasm
”Yes, at his club There, I must have been unwell I was a little overdone What a terrible night”