Page:By order of the Czar.djvu/161

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BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. I 49

" I don't know, I believe I am," said Philip. " Come in, Chetwynd ; have you a match ? "

" A match, yes. What's the matter? "

" Nothing's the matter," said Philip, " only that I have been to sleep."

" What, all day long ? " asked Dick, lighting a match.

" I don't know ; I think I have, or else been dreaming. It is awfully good of you to come, old chap."

' Philip took the match from Dick, lighted a lamp, and shivered. " Is it not very cold? What's the time ? "

" It is very cold and the time is seven o'clock. You have not dined ? "

" No," said Philip.

" That's right," said Dick, " I have not. Come home with me.'

" My mother expects me to dinner."

" No, she does not. I have seen her ; met her at Mar- tinotti's studio ; an exhibition of his models for the Gari- baldi statue. I told her I should call for you and carry you off. But what have you been doing, my dear fellow ? You are as white as Martinotti's plaster ! "

" I have been trying to work."

" I expected to find you radiant after what happened last night. I suppose the new impulse it has given to your ambition has set you working too hard to-day ? You must not do that. I congratulate you, my dear boy ; it is a most desirable match in every way."

" I hope so," said Philip.

" You hope so, you young vagabond ? " said Dick he always called him a young vagabond when he liked him most " you know it is."

" She is a sweet girl," said Philip ; " I wish I was worthy of her."

" Worthy ? Fiddlesticks ! Go now and dress and let us be off; you don't mean to say you have been here all