Evan Harrington -- Volume 5
occasion; and Britons are the wisest of their race, for more than all others they take advantage of it. In this Nature is undoubtedly our guide, see
centives to the forgetfulness of troubles past and imminent, and produce a concentration of the faculties. They may not exactly pr
ers of the mine about to explode should lose their subterranean countenances. A generous abandonment to one idea prevailed. As for Evan, the first glass of champagne rushed into reckless nuptials with the music in his head, bringing Rose, warm almost as life, on his heart. Sublime are the visions of lovers! He knew he must leave her on the morrow; he feared he might never behold her again; and yet he tasted bliss, for it seemed within the contemplation of the Gods that he should dance
d of him: that he can play second fiddle without looking foolish, which, for my part, I call a greater triumph than if he were performing the heroics we are more accustomed to. He has steady eyes, can gaze at the right level into the eyes of others, and commands a tongue which is neither struck dumb nor set in a flutter by any startling question. The best instances to be given that he does not lack merit are that the Jocelyns, whom he has offended by his birth, cannot change their treatment of him, and that the hostile women, whatever they may say
she is not serious. It is mere spirit of opposition. She eats and drinks just like
would rather have her sit and sigh by the hour, and
of a silly country gi
eplied. 'A season in Lond
cheeks him she loved, as well as the woman she despised and had been foiled by. Still she had the consolation that Rose, seeing the vulgar mother, might turn from Evan: a poor distant hope, meagre and shap
is a pic-nic, Lady Jocely
o come within the term,' was the reply. 'On the
celyn. From what I can remember, pic-nic implies contributi
ad throttled the inward monitor that tells us when we are lying, so
'I have heard of that fashi
ar,' murmured M
took cold pie and claret. I clashed with half-a-dozen, but all the harm we did was to upset the dict
ly vulgar, claims rank above me!' The reflection generated contempt of Englis
t attack which aroused her
ess's benevolent passing gaze, and leaning forward, said: 'I hop
llude, may I beg to inquire? The Countess knew better. Rapid as light it shot through her that the relict of Si
performance with a mournful smile. All that a woman must feel at the demise of so precious a thing as a husband, was therein eloquently expressed: and at
ion of the throat. And I was so sorry I could not get down to him in time. I had not seen him since his marriage, when I was a gir
Countess his mission and business there: 'Then our vocation is at last revealed to us! Quinsey- doctor! I remember when a boy, wandering over the paternal mansion, and envying the life of a
the Conley girls, 'that quinsey is neede
he, but had not appa
the vacuous vulgar air of the woman told her that most probably she was but an instrument, not a confederate, and was only trying to push herself into acquaintance with the great: a proce
e behind the murmur of pleasure, if you will. The Countess had a not unfeminine weakness for champagne, and old Mr. Bonner's cellar was well and c
ught she might, or it may be that nature wa
with Sir Joh
now how amusing it is
s the dear Queen u
served Sir John, with emphasis, and the Count
or gave two or three
!' sh
e remark: whereupon
imat
d Tory in Sir Abraham,' said t
ible to the Countess by her putative father as the dinner had been by the great Mel? The deep, hard, level look of Juliana met the Countess's smile from time
n? Oh, I hope so!' came aft
l, Mrs. Perkins?' Lady Jocelyn aske
Perkins was checked, and the Countess in alarm, about to
that there is no conversation,' whispered the
middle-aged man, of a lawyer-like cast; and then Juliana nodded, and George Uplift touched his arm, and glanced hurriedly behind for cham
upon Seymour Jocelyn, the Countess asked touchingly for news of the partridges. It was like the unlocking of a machine. Seymour was not blythe in his reply, but he was loud and forcible; and when he came to the statistics-oh, then you would have admired the Countess!-for comparisons ensued, braces were enumerated, numbers given were contested, and the shooting of this one jeered at, and another's sure mark respectfully admitted. And how lay the coveys?
be something of a sho
d that foolish Andrew told the story, and the Countess, to revive her subject, had
esiding dame. 'Ladies, apply immed
f from the point. A portion of her mind she keeps to combat them in Lady Jocelyn and others who have the tendency: the rest she divides between internal-prayers for succour, and casting about for another popular subject to follow partridges. Now, mere talent, as critics say when they are lighting candles round a genius, mere talent would have hit upon pheasants as the natural sequitur, and then diverged to sports-a great theme, for it ensures a chorus of sneers at foreigners, and so on probably to a discussion of birds and beasts best adapted to enrapture the palate of man. Stories may succeed, but they are doubtful, and not to be trusted, coming after cookery. After an exciting subject which has made the general tongue to wag, and just enough heated the brain to cause it to cry out for spiced food-then start your story: taking care that it be mild; for one too marvellous stops the tide, the sense of climax being strongly implanted in all bosoms. So the Countess told an anecdote-one
attack was directed against her guest
drowned in the
that persists in serving up
'Mr. Farnley's cousin was the steward
wn to heroes and great generals in action when they feel sure that resources within them
nley explained, 'very great. I heard that this l
nd Mrs. Shorne gave her the shade of a sh
s Jenny Graine at the m
t him, to see that hi
ss bre
lder branc
nd moving in their seats was heard. The Countess watched Mr. Farnley's mystifi
sure of relating her sufferings in days to come. This vista was before her when, harsh as an execution bell, telling her
immediately, as if the p
, whose first thought was to spare the fa
was no more than the leng
ould not help criticizing her mother's curtsey to Lady Jocelyn. Fine,
, and thanked heaven that sh
out of the one she best loved. For this purpose, heedless of all pain to be given, or of impropriety, she had come
hear he has been playing the lord in your house, my lady. I humbly thank your ladyship for your kindness to him, but he is nothin
t spirit, Rose's eyes fixed on Evan. He met them. The words of Ruth passed through his heart. But the Countess, who had given Rose to Evan, and the Duke to Caroline, where was her supporter? The Duke was entertaining Ca
others before the fruits and wines? All eyes were hateful-the very thought of Providence confused her brain. Almost reduced to imbecility, the Countess imagined, as a reali
nd made attempts at conversation. Mrs. Mel sat u
scrutinized Mrs. Mel, and then examined Evan, and Rose thought that in his interchange of glances with any one there was a lurking revival of the scene gone by. She signalled with her eyebrows for Drummond to correct him, but Drummond had another occupation. Andrew made the diversion. He whispered to his neighbour, and the
tain coming in-couldn't stop to stop hi
mmit of Olympus, and his report proclaimed the advance in the direction of the Bull-dogs of a sma
conferred with her ladys
ietly, and passed round
n broke up
her to his mother. She turned lividly white, and went
e tables, but before the guests were out of ear-shot,
but to lie,' said her ladyship to Sir Franks, 'and
perplexed husba
Law
lifted his hat, de
s my wif
come from the A
e for my wi
ty for the wife of that cropped-headed, tight-skinned lunatic at large, but deeper was the Countess's pity for Lady J
is not
foundly, trailing his broad
this, madam,' he said, a
brows as she gathered th
handwriting!'
is regretted. My wife runs away from her bed, madam, and I have the law, madam, the law is with the husband. No force!' He lashed his cane sharpl
a tangent all over the country in se
came ten times more
tess to say: 'Her ladyship doe
Sir John. They began
when you talk reason t
frantic person should be treated. The case indeed looked urgent. Many gentlemen considered themselves bound to approach and be ready in ca
l not st
The cane and hat were
for you a gentleman of the law.
ss and offered her his arm. The Countess smilingly waved back Sir John, who motioned to attend on her, and away she wen
not admi
elyn, 'they are a remarkable fa
ctory; yea, though Demogorgon, aided by the vindictive ghost of Sir Abraham, took tangible shape in the ranks opposed to her. True, Lady Jocelyn, forgetting her own recent intrepidity, condemned her as a liar; but the fruits of the Countess's victory were plentiful. Drummond Forth, fe
I don't say you wrote it-I don't think you could have written it. But, to tell you the truth, I have an u
to repeat it. He met her ladyship's hand haughtil
mplete victory, the batt
he pic-nic more r
demand that after an exhibition of consummate deeds, time be
ITOR'S B
dder when you ta
ltz through life wi
grand ladies can m
in love wit
, and judged it by t
ratching, only
me that I d
up to the people t
ult to forgive
work togethe
ng alone-whic
bly honest, Tom, f
e of deceit. A life
you rightly, always
t contest when love h
another, and b
the subject of rising
it on purpose. Can'
ming of it, her cu
ny, and so, no do
ddle without l
e could only mea
can't understand i
things are t
sinned in i
n who always know t
re is no such thing
the certain disast
t of me? not a smal
emen could commit sl
ap your head