COLIN CLINK. By Charles Hooton, Esq. In Three Volumes. Vol. II. (of III) LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. 1841. [Illustration: 010] [Illustration: 011] CHAPTER I. _Displays Miss Sowersoft's character in a degree of perfection unparalleled on any previous exhibition.--Fanny's obstinacy incites Mrs. Clink to turn her adrift upon the world._ Having entered the room, Miss Sowersoft first peeped out to see that no listeners were in the neighbourhood, and then cautiously closed the door,--all the blood in her veins mustering up in red rebellion against poor Fanny, as she stared at that young woman through two dilated eyes, with something of the expression of a hand-grenade with a newly-lit fusee. “Take a chair, Mrs. Clink,” said Miss Sowersoft, in a tone which denoted more than her ordinary attention to etiquette, as she still kept her eyes on Fanny, in order to make her feel her own insignificance the more keenly by the contrast; “do be seated;” and she drew up another chair for herself, while Fanny was left standing, as best became a servant--and a culprit. “Now, I am quite ready to begin.” “Have it out of her at once--I would not stand on ceremony with anybody like her!” “What is it, Fanny,” asked Mrs. Clink, “that the doctor has been talking to you about?” “I cannot answer that,” replied Fanny. “I have promised to tell nobody, and I must keep my word.” “There!--that's sufficient!” cried Miss Sowersoft, “that is plenty! You see what it is. She has _promised_, and will not explain it. I knew before, as well as if I had heard, how it would all be. She has compromised' herself, just as such a young face-proud hussy was sure to do. It is a wonder to me, Mrs. Clink, how you have contrived to keep her respectable so long.” “I did not intend to talk to _you_, Miss Sowersoft,” replied, Fanny; “but I will tell you that I have always been too respectable for what you seem to think.” “Answer me, Fanny,” interposed Mrs. Clink. “I am sure you will answer me.” “I cannot, ma'am,” said Fanny. “You positively will not, do you mean to say?” “Indeed I cannot, because I have promised that I would not; but it is nothing of the least harm.” “Oh, no!” exclaimed Miss Sowersoft, “not the least harm!--to be sure not!--oh, no! She is very innocent, no doubt.” “If I discharge you from service unless you do tell me, what then?” asked her mistress. “I cannot help it if you do,” said Fanny, as she burst into tears at the bare mention of quitting that place which had been as a home to her nearly all her life.