The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Charles Dickens [english reading book .TXT] 📗

With the check upon him of being unsympathetically restrained in agenial outburst of enthusiasm, Mr. Jasper stands still, and lookson intently at the young fellow, divesting himself of his outwardcoat, hat, gloves, and so forth. Once for all, a look ofintentness and intensity--a look of hungry, exacting, watchful, andyet devoted affection--is always, now and ever afterwards, on theJasper face whenever the Jasper face is addressed in thisdirection. And whenever it is so addressed, it is never, on thisoccasion or on any other, dividedly addressed; it is alwaysconcentrated.

'Now I am right, and now I'll take my corner, Jack. Any dinner,Jack?'

Mr. Jasper opens a door at the upper end of the room, and disclosesa small inner room pleasantly lighted and prepared, wherein acomely dame is in the act of setting dishes on table.

'What a jolly old Jack it is!' cries the young fellow, with a clapof his hands. 'Look here, Jack; tell me; whos