werableforit.Criticiseme:doesmyforeheadnotpleaseyou?”

    Heliftedupthesablewavesofhairwhichlayhorizontallyoverhisbrow,andshowedasolidenoughmassofintellectualans,butanabruptdeficywherethesuavesignofbenevolenceshouldhaverisen.

    “Now,ma’am,amIafool?”

    “Farfromit,sir.Youwould,perhaps,thinkmerudeifIinquirediurheryouareaphilanthropist?”

    “Thereagain!Aickofthepenknife,wheeopatmyhead:andthatisbecauseIsaidIdidnotlikethesocietyofchildrenandoldwomen(lowbeitspoken!).No,younglady,Iamnotageneralphilanthropist;butIbearasce;”andhepoiheprominenceswhicharesaidtoindicatethatfaculty,andwhich,fortunatelyforhim,weresuffitlyspicuous;giving,indeed,amarkedbreadthtotheupperpartofhishead:“and,besides,Ioncehadakindofrudetendernessofheart.WhenIwasasoldasyou,Iwasafeelingfellowenough,partialtotheunfledged,unfostered,andunlucky;butFortunehasknockedmeaboutsince:shehasevenkneadedmewithherknuckles,andnowIflattermyselfIamhardandtoughasanIndia-rubberball;pervious,though,throughakortwostill,andwithoientpointinthemiddleofthelump.Yes:doesthatleavehopeforme?”

    “Hopeofwhat,sir?”

    “OfmyfiransformationfromIndia-rubberbacktoflesh?”

    “Decidedlyhehashadtoomue,”Ithought;andIdidnotknowwhataomaketohisqueerquestion:howcouldItellwhetherheableofbeiransformed?

    “Youlookedverymuchpuzzled,MissEyre;andthoughyouarenotprettyanymorethanIamhandsome,yetapuzzledairbeesyou;besides,itisve,foritkeepsthoseseargeyesofyoursawayfrommyphysiognomy,andbusiesthemwiththeworstedflowersoftherug;sopuzzleon.