Talking on very fast and very much, Miss La Creevy finished her breakfast with great expedition, put away the tea–caddy and hid the key under the fender, resumed her bonnet, and, taking Nicholas’s arm, sallied forth at once to the city. Nicholas left her near the door of his mother’s house, and promised to return within a quarter of an hour.

‘Well,’ said Mr Gregsbury; ‘now what can you do?’