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XXXIV.
"
Good morning, Madam," said Hoopdriver, as Jessie came into the
breakfast room of the Golden Pheasant on Monday morning, and he smiled,
bowed, rubbed his hands together, and pulled out a chair for her, and
rubbed his hands again.
She stopped abruptly, with a puzzled expression on her face. "Where HAVE
I seen that before?" she said.
"
The chair?" said Hoopdriver, flushing.
No--the attitude."
"
She came forward and shook hands with him, looking the while curiously
into his face. "And--Madam?"
"It's a habit," said Mr. Hoopdriver, guiltily. "A bad habit. Calling
ladies Madam. You must put it down to our colonial roughness. Out there
up country--y'know--the ladies--so rare--we call 'em all Madam."
"You HAVE some funny habits, brother Chris," said Jessie. "Before you
sell your diamond shares and go into society, as you say, and stand
for Parliament--What a fine thing it is to be a man!--you must cure
yourself. That habit of bowing as you do, and rubbing your hands, and
looking expectant."
208
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