( just as atticus opened his mouth to respond, miss bennet interjects. his brow lifts, pithy in its meaning, when he looks at her. she needn't offer justification or explanation for their association. her mother is not here to take offence. unless now, when in the company of her aunt and uncle in london, does miss bennet begin to see the offence of his rank and in their friendship. if that is indeed true, then atticus can only place fault that it took her this long to arrive at that conclusion. it would have been better at the beginning before he formed an attachment with her.
an easy smile hides the turmoil beating in his chest like cannon fire, and he finally responds to mrs gardiner, ) It is no trouble, madam. I shall be delighted.
( just then, the gardiners' carriage arrives and they all bid farewell. atticus bows, eyes not straying to miss bennet as is their custom. ) Until tomorrow.
( he takes his leave and is gratified to discover his friend so close by. however, mr frahm finds atticus in an acerbic temper during their reassemblage and on the carriage ride to his apartment on drury lane. they say nothing to each other, aside from a brief comment by mr frahm on the assessment of the play, to which atticus agrees. like his feelings, he will keep his opinion buried and hidden until he can find safety in the dark privacy of his room.
when they arrive back on drury lane, mr frahm suggests a nightcap. for the past eight nights, atticus had accepted the offer, although he does not drink alcohol. he partook in tea while his friend drank brandy. this night, however, atticus declines and announces that he is going to bed, giving a little excuse that the trip to the theatre has proven to be more exhausting than anticipated. in a way, he is truthful.
he goes to bed and stews safely in the dark privacy of his room, regretting accepting mrs gardiner's invitation to tea. there, he and miss bennet would be expected to talk and converse as if they were friends. but friends they are not if miss bennet's clumsy interjection was to be understood. she would not have bothered to clarify their connection to her aunt and uncle if it was not as it seemed.
after some hours laying in bed, atticus finally falls asleep, while the dim glow from streetlights and the echo of wheels and hooves clacking over pavement do not halt. )
no subject
an easy smile hides the turmoil beating in his chest like cannon fire, and he finally responds to mrs gardiner, ) It is no trouble, madam. I shall be delighted.
( just then, the gardiners' carriage arrives and they all bid farewell. atticus bows, eyes not straying to miss bennet as is their custom. ) Until tomorrow.
( he takes his leave and is gratified to discover his friend so close by. however, mr frahm finds atticus in an acerbic temper during their reassemblage and on the carriage ride to his apartment on drury lane. they say nothing to each other, aside from a brief comment by mr frahm on the assessment of the play, to which atticus agrees. like his feelings, he will keep his opinion buried and hidden until he can find safety in the dark privacy of his room.
when they arrive back on drury lane, mr frahm suggests a nightcap. for the past eight nights, atticus had accepted the offer, although he does not drink alcohol. he partook in tea while his friend drank brandy. this night, however, atticus declines and announces that he is going to bed, giving a little excuse that the trip to the theatre has proven to be more exhausting than anticipated. in a way, he is truthful.
he goes to bed and stews safely in the dark privacy of his room, regretting accepting mrs gardiner's invitation to tea. there, he and miss bennet would be expected to talk and converse as if they were friends. but friends they are not if miss bennet's clumsy interjection was to be understood. she would not have bothered to clarify their connection to her aunt and uncle if it was not as it seemed.
after some hours laying in bed, atticus finally falls asleep, while the dim glow from streetlights and the echo of wheels and hooves clacking over pavement do not halt. )