"
"The new satirist? What, Rivarez? But I
thought Grassini disapproved of him so strongly."
"Yes; but once the man is here and is sure to
be talked about, of course Grassini wants his house
to be the first place where the new lion will be on
show. You may be sure Rivarez has heard nothing
of Grassini's disapproval. He may have guessed
it, though; he's sharp enough."
"I did not even know he had come."
"He only arrived yesterday. Here comes the
tea. No, don't get up; let me fetch the kettle."
He was never so happy as in this little study.
Gemma's friendship, her grave unconsciousness of
the charm she exercised over him, her frank and
simple comradeship were the brightest things for
him in a life that was none too bright; and whenever
he began to feel more than usually depressed
he would come in here after business hours and
sit with her, generally in silence, watching her as
she bent over her needlework or poured out tea.
She never questioned him about his troubles or
expressed any sympathy in words; but he always
went away stronger and calmer, feeling, as he put
it to himself, that he could "trudge through
another fortnight quite respectably.
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