Lippincott's Magazine, Vol. 22, September, 1878, page 49 by Various Authors
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lot; and so I tell you. You'll lose your money and get into nasty drinking ways: don't you go there any more."
"Upon my word, Lydia, you preach as well as old Clifton does."
"And do you just as much good, I dare say."
"Just as much. You've hit it exactly."
"I thought so. You aren't the sort to take any heed. One may preach and preach--"
"How well you understand me! No, as you say, I am not the sort to get any good from preaching. You are quite right, Lydia: my character requires kindness, sympathy and a latch-key--especially requires a latch-key."
"Especially requires a fiddlestick!" said Lydia; and, disregarding his smiling "Not at all," she went on in an injured tone: "There's ma worrying over accounts, and likely to worry for the next hour. How am I to get a key from under her very nose?"
Lisle seemed to reflect: "Old Fordham doesn't have one, I suppose."
"Gracious! No, not he! If you gave him one he'd drop it as if it was red hot. He thinks they're wicked."
There was a pause, but after a few moments there stole through the silence a sweetly insinuating voice: "Then, Lydia--"
Lydia half turned away and put up her left shoulder.
"Then, Lydia, I suppose you wouldn't--"
"You'd better keep on supposing I wouldn't."
"Can't suppose such cruelty for more than a moment--can't really. No, listen to me"--this with a change of voice: "I must go out this evening. Upon my soul, it's important. I'm in a fix, Lydia. I've not breathed a word to any one else, and wouldn't for worlds, but you'll not let it out, I know. If I'm lucky enough to get out of the scrape to-night, I'll never get into it again, I can tell you."
"You will," said Lydia.
"I swear I won't. And if not--"
"Well? if not?"
"Why, I must try another plan to get free. I sha'n't like it, but I must. But there'll be a row, and I shall have to go away. I'd a good deal rather not."
"What sort of plan?" she asked curiously.
"Desperate," h