"I'll write it down for you. It
doesn't really look at all like that except when you say it. Have
you a bit of pencil and the back of an envelope?" she asked.
The old gentleman got out a gold pencil-case and a beautiful, sweet-
smelling, green Russian leather note-book and opened it at a new
page.
"Here," he said, "write here."
She wrote down "Szezcpansky," and said:--
"That's how you write it. You CALL it Shepansky."
The old gentleman took out a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles and
fitted them on his nose. When he had read the name, he looked quite
different.
"THAT man? Bless my soul!" he said. "Why, I've read his book!
It's translated into every European language. A fine book--a noble
book. And so your mother took him in--like the good Samaritan.
Well, well. I'll tell you what, youngsters--your mother must be a
very good woman."
"Of course she is," said Phyllis, in astonishment.
"And you're a very good man," said Bobbie, very shy, but firmly
resolved to be polite.
"You flatter me," said the old gentleman, taking off his hat with a
flourish. "And now am I to tell you what I think of you?"
"Oh, please don't," said Bobbie, hastily.
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