Miss Wren pursued her occupation with a concentrated air, and asked, after an interval of silent industry:

“Are you in the army?”

“Not exactly,” said Fledgeby, rather flattered by the question.

“Navy?” asked Miss Wren.

“N⁠—no,” said Fledgeby. He qualified these two negatives, as if he were not absolutely in either service, but was almost in both.

“What are you then?” demanded Miss Wren.

“I am a gentleman, I am,” said Fledgeby.

“Oh!” assented Jenny, screwing up her mouth with an appearance of conviction. “Yes, to be sure! That accounts for your having so much time to give to interceding. But only to think how kind and friendly a gentleman you must be!”