TALES FOR CHRISTMAS EVE. TALES FOR CHRISTMAS EVE. BY RHODA BROUGHTON, AUTHOR OF “COMETH UP AS A FLOWER,” ETC., ETC. [Illustration] LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY AND SON. 1873. CONTENTS. PAGE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH 1 THE MAN WITH THE NOSE 33 BEHOLD IT WAS A DREAM! 83 POOR PRETTY BOBBY 131 UNDER THE CLOAK 191 THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. MRS. DE WYNT TO MRS. MONTRESOR. “18, ECCLESTON SQUARE, “_May 5th._ “MY DEAREST CECILIA, “Talk of the friendships of Orestes and Pylades, of Julie and Claire, what are they to ours? Did Pylades ever go _ventre à terre_, half over London on a day more broiling than any but an _âme damnée_ could even imagine, in order that Orestes might be comfortably housed for the season? Did Claire ever hold sweet converse with from fifty to one hundred house agents, in order that Julie might have three windows to her drawing-room and a pretty _portière_? You see I am determined not to be done out of my full meed of gratitude. “Well, my friend, I had no idea till yesterday how closely we were packed in this great smoky bee-hive, as tightly as herrings in a barrel. Don’t be frightened, however. By dint of squeezing and crowding, we have managed to make room for two more herrings in our barrel, and those two are yourself and your other self, _i.e._ your husband. Let me begin at the beginning. After having looked over, I verily believe, every undesirable residence in West London; after having seen nothing intermediate between what was suited to the means of a duke, and what was suited to the needs of a chimney-sweep; after having felt bed-ticking, and explored kitchen-ranges till my brain reeled under my accumulated experience, I arrived at about half-past five yesterday afternoon at 32, ---- Street, May Fair.