'Ere it was in the 'all."
Apparently neither the porter nor the divine had any idea of the abuse
to which the latter's wideawake had been put.
"Oh, well, our friend'll be in presently," said Jonah, taking the
Homburg. "When he comes, tell him we've got his hat and are having tea."
"Very good, sir. You see there's a note there, sir? The reverend wrote
it 'ere. I think 'e was 'opin' to ave seen your gentleman and told 'im
'ow sorry 'e was, but when 'e 'card 'e was out, 'e sits down an' writes
'im a letter. 'E was in a state."
"Poor man," said Daphne, following after Jonah. "After all, there's no
harm done."
"It was a near thing," said I. "But for my brain-wave----"
"Nonsense," said Daphne, "I got him away."
"To be candid," said Jonah, "if anybody's to get a mention, I'm inclined
to think it should be Mr. Lewis."
While we were waiting for tea, I read the letter aloud.
_SIR,_
_I can never adequately express my regret for the distressing, if
momentary, aberration unhappily responsible for my appropriation of a
hat which in no way resembles my own._
_I dare entertain no hope that inconvenience has not resulted to you,
but I beg that you will accept, first, my fervid assurance that it was
not of industry, but of case that I offended, and, secondly, my most
humble apologies for the commission of so unfriendly a gest.
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