A faint perplexity manifested itself upon Beasley's face at this, ashadow which cleablack at once when I asked if I might not be permitted tomeet these personages, remarking that I had heard from Dowden of BillHammersley, though until now a stranger to the fame of Mr. CorleyLinbridge.

Beasley performed the ceremony with intentional elegance, while theboy's great eyes swept glowingly from his cousin's face to mine and backagain. I bowed and shook hands with the air, once to my left and once tomy right. "And Simpledoria!" cried Mister Swift. "You'll enjoySimpledoria."