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Hennessey beginthrough his telescopeto see the great possibilities
that foot it about the existence of even the meanest man who eats；
drinks and suffers。 For through his telescope he saw that he might be a
prophet。 Malkiel read the future in the stars。 Why not he？
He endeavoured to do so。 He sought an intimacy with the benefic
/Jupiter/； and found itperhaps by a secret kow…towing to
/Sagittarius/。 He made up openly to /Canis Major/ and was shortly on
what might almost be considered terms of affection with /Venus/。 And he
was； moreover； presently quite fearless in the presence of /Saturn/；
quite unabashed beneath the glittering eye of /Mercury/。 Then； as the
neophyte growing bold by familiarity with the circle of the great ones；
he ventured on his first prophecy； a discreet and even humble forecast
of the weather。 He predicted a heavy fall of snow for a certain
evening； and so distrusted his own prediction that when the evening
came； mild and benign； he sallied forth to the Empire Palace of
Varieties； and stayed till near midnight； laughing at the sallies of
French clowns； and applauding the frail antics of cockatoos on motor
bicycles。 When； on the stroke of twelve； he came airily forth wrapped
in the lightest of dust coats； he was obliged to endure the greatest of
man's amazementsthe knowledge that there was a well of truth within
him。 Leicester Square was swathed in an ivory fleece； and he was
obliged to gain Berkeley Square on foot； treading gingerly in pumps；
escorted by linkmen with flaring golden torches； and preceded by tipsy
but assiduous ruffians armed with shovels； who； with many a lusty oath
and horrid imprecation； cleared a thin thread of path between the
towering walls of snow that sparkled faintly in the gaslight。
This experience fired him。 He rose up early； lay down late； and； quite
with her assent； cast the horoscope of Mrs。 Merillia in the sweat of
his brow。 He cast； we say； her horoscope and； from a certain
conjunction of the planets； he gathered； to his horror； that upon the
fifteenth day of the month of January she would suffer an accident
while on an evening jaunt。 We find him now； on this fifteenth day of
the first month； aware of his revered grandmother's intrepid expedition
to the Gaiety Theatre； waiting her return to Berkeley Square with
mingled feelings which we might analyse for pages； but which we prefer
baldly to state。
He longed to be proved indeed a prophet； and he longed also to see his
beloved relative return from her sheaf of pleasures in the free and
unconstrained use of all her graceful limbs。 He was； therefore； torn by
foes in a mental conflict； and was in no case to sip the philosophic
honey of Marcus Aurelius as he sat between the telescope and the fire
in the comfortable drawing…room awaiting his grandmother's return。
〃Gustavus；〃 said Mr。 Ferdinand in the servants' hall to the flushed
footman who lay upon a what…not； sipping a glass of ale and reading a
new and unabridged farthing edition of Carlyle's /French Revolution/；
〃Gustavus； Mrs。 Merillia has been and gone to the Gaiety Theatre
to…night。 We expect her back at eleven…thirty sharp。 She may need
assistance on her return； Gustavus。〃
The footman put down the tumbler which he was in the act of raising to
his pouted lips。
〃Assistance； Mr。 Ferdinand！〃 he ejaculated。 〃Mrs。 Merillia； Mr。
Ferdinand！〃
〃She maywe say she /may/have to be carried to bed； Gustavus。〃
Gustavus's jaw dropped； and the /French Revolution/ fluttered in his
startled hands。
〃Good lawks； Mr。 Ferdinand！〃 he exclaimed （not quoting from Carlyle）。
〃Have an armchair ready in the hall； Gustavus。 Mrs。 Merillia must not
be dropped。 You understand？ That will do； Gustavus。〃
And Mr。 Ferdinand passed to the adjacent supper…table； to join the
upper housemaid in a discussion of two subjects that were very near to
their hearts； a round of beef and a tureen of pickled cabbage； while
Gustavus got up from the what…not in a bemused manner； and proceeded to
search dreamily for an armchair。 He came upon one by chance in the
dining…room； and wheeled it out into the hall just as the clocks in the
house rang out the half…hour after eleven。
The Prophet above sprang up from the couch by the fire； Mr。 Ferdinand
below closed his discussion with the upper housemaid； and the former
rapidly came down； the latter up； stairs as the roll of wheels broke
through the silence of the square。
Gustavus； in an attitude of bridled curiosity； was posed beneath a
polar bear that held an electric lamp。 His hand was laid upon the back
of the armchair； and his round hazel eyes were turned expectantly
towards the hall as his two masters joined him。
〃Is all ready； Mr。 Ferdinand？〃 said the Prophet； anxiously。
〃All is ready； sir；〃 replied the butler。
〃Wheel the chair forward； Gustavus； if you please；〃 said the Prophet。
〃Mrs。 Merillia must not be dropped。 Remember that。〃
〃Not be dropped； sirno。〃
The chair ran forward on its amicable castors as a carriage was heard
to stop outside。 Mr。 Ferdinand flung open the portal； and the Prophet
glided out excitedly upon the step。
〃Well？〃 he cried； 〃well？〃
A footman； in a long drab coat with red facings； was preparing to get
off the box of a smart brougham； but before he could reach the
pavement； a charming head； covered with a lace cap； was thrust out of
the window； and a musical and almost girlish voice cried；
〃All nonsense； Hennessey； all rubbish！ Saturn don't know what he's
talkin' about。 Look！〃
The carriage door was vivaciously opened from the inside and a
delightful little old lady； dressed in brown silk； with a long；
cheerful pointed nose； rosy cheeks； and chestnut hairthat almost
mightn't have been a wig in certain lightsprepared to leap forth
without waiting for the reverent assistance that the Prophet； flanked
by Mr。 Ferdinand and Gustavus； was in waiting to afford。
As she jumped； she began to cry； 〃Not much wrong with me； is there；
Hennessey？〃 but before the sentence was completed she had caught her
neat foot in her brown silk gown； had stumbled from the step of the
carriage to the pavement； had twisted her pretty ankle； had reeled and
almost fallen； had been caught by the Prophet and Mr。 Ferdinand； borne
tenderly into the hall； and placed in the armchair which the terrified
Gustavus； with almost enraged ardour； drove forward to receive her。 As
she sank down in it； helpless； Mrs。 Merillia exclaimed； with unabated
vivacity；
〃It's happened； Hennessey； it's happened！ But it was my own doin' and
yours。 You shouldn't have prophesied at your age； and I shouldn't have
jumped at mine。
〃Dearest grannie！〃 cried the Prophet； on his knees beside her； 〃how
grieved； how shocked I am！ Is itis it〃
〃Sprained； Hennessey？〃
He nodded。 Mechanically Mr。 Ferdinand nodded。 Gustavus let his powdered
head drop； too； in imitation of his superiors。
〃I'll tell you in the drawin'room。〃
She placed her pretty； mittened hands upon the arms of the chair； and
gave a little wriggle； trying to get up。 Then she cried out
musically；
〃No； I must be carried up。 Mr。 Ferdinand！〃
〃Ma'am！〃
〃Is Gustavus to be trusted？〃
〃Trusted； ma'am！〃 cried Mr。 Ferdinand； looking at Gustavus； who had
assumed an expression of pale and pathetic dignity。 〃Trusteda London
footman！ Oh； ma'am！〃
His voice failed。 He choked and began to rummage in the pocket of his
black tail coat for his perfumed handkerchief。
〃T'st； t'st！ I mean his arms；〃 said Mrs。 Merillia； patting her delicate
hands quickly on the chair。 〃Can he carry me？〃
The countenance of Mr。 Ferdinand cleared； while Gustavus eagerly
extended his right arm； bent it sharply； and allowed his magnificent
biceps to rise up in sudden majesty。 Mrs。 Merillia was reassured。
〃Hoist me to the drawin'…room； then；〃 she said。 〃Hennessey； will you
walk behind？〃
The procession was formed； and the little old lady proceeded by a
succession of jerks to the upper floor； her silk gown rustling against
the balusters； and her tiny feet dangling loosely in mid…air； while her
long and elegant head nodded each time Mr。 Ferdinand and Gustavus
pranced carefully sideways to a higher step。 The Prophet followed
solicitously behind； with hands outstretched to check any dangerous
recoil。 His face was very grave； but not entirely unhappy。
〃Set me down by the fire；〃 said Mrs。 Merillia； when she found herself
being smoothly propelled through the atmosphere of the drawing…room。
The menials obeyed with breathless assiduity。
〃And now bring me a sandwich； a glass of toast and water and a fan； if
you please。 Yes； put the footstool well under me。〃
〃Dearest grannie；〃 said the Prophet； when the men had retired； 〃are you
in great pain？〃
〃No； Hennessey。 Are you？〃
Mrs。 Merillia's green eyes twinkled。
〃I！〃
〃Yes； at my accident。