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Trollope, Anthony, 1815-1882

"The Eustace Diamonds"

I
lived upon them for two years."
"Stone and Toddy, with a little tobacco, have been all my comfort. I
began, however, by sleeping for a few hours. Then I went upon the
mountains."
"Did you take a gun?"
"I took it out of the case, but it didn't come right, and so I left it. A
man came to me and said that he was the keeper."
"He'd have put the gun right for you."
"I was too bashful for that. I persuaded him that I wanted to go out alone
and see what birds there were, and at last I induced him to stay here with
the old woman. He's to be at the cottage at nine to-morrow. I hope that is
all right."
In the evening, as they smoked and drank whiskey and water--probably
supposing that to be correct in Ayrshire--they were led on by the combined
warmth of the spirit, the tobacco, and their friendship, to talk about
women. Frank, some month or six weeks since, in a moment of soft
confidence, had told his friend of his engagement with Lucy Morris. Of
Lizzie Eustace he had spoken only as of a cousin whose interests were dear
to him. Her engagement with Lord Fawn was known to all London, and was,
therefore, known to Arthur Herriot.


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