Interludes / being Two Essays, a Story, and Some Verses

who was, or should be, her lord and master, was perched upon the music stool. The Drag, in a pink muslin o

y dear," said Mrs. Porkington,

n?" said he. "Why, I n

or did I insinuate that you could, my dear, nor did I say so that

idly, "I like to see the yo

"I am sure I am getting quite tired

you liked them, or I would n

ndeavour to lay the expense of those tickets upon my shoulders. I am su

out; but a woman will lie to the very person whom she knows to be as fully acquainted

sperate effort, "you appeared to enjoy t

dy, "is it true that I a

h, "far from it. No doubt you would

nued, "that I wish to go to

said the Drag, "nor do

these cases there is no via media. A man should either resist to the d

upon us, that she is to be sneered at and ill-treated." At this speech the Drag burst into tears, and declared that she always knew that Mr. Porkington hated her; that she might

r distant planet there may be some better world where all unfortunate creatures,-dogs which have had tin kettles tied to their tails,-cockchafers which have been spun upon pins,-poor men who have been over-crawed by wiv

lenville, Thornton, and

ill be our last ball, and we ought to make a happy evening of it. Are

sed!" Every time she repeated the word "pleased" she launched it at the head of the unf

ou are going, howev

"for Mr. Porkington has been so very ki

sure you it is quite the reverse. I am so mis

rescue of the unfortunate tutor, and speaking in his most fascinating manner, "I have hoped for the pleas

oon commenced. Captains O'Brien and Kelly were already waltzing with the two Misses Bankes, and whispering delightful nothings into their curls as we entered. The artist was floundering in a persevering manner with pretty Miss Bagshaw, and the doctor was standing in the doorway ruminating hopefully on the probable effects of low dresses and cold draughts. Thornton was soon engrossed in the charms of his lady love, and Barton, Glenville, and

in a corner, and was enlarging to

thing of the past, and so have chivalry and monasteries. The mind of the nineteenth century is marching on to i

s, certainly, of cou

you would. This is most delightful. I have seldom tal

tly, "no one would venture to cope

subjects. The great desideratum-you see I understand the Latin tongue, Mr. Bankes-the great desideratu

*

sir. I will not play with you any more. Do you call yourself a whist player and m

nd flung down her cards upon the table. Seeing Porkington enter, she cried out, "Look to your wife, sir, look to your wife. She received signals across the table

shaw. "I declare nothing has happened that I know of

ll she steadied herself by clenching tightly the back of her chair. Her daughter was luckily close to her, "Oh, mamma, mamma," whispered she, "how can you

w should have made some mistake. Some sudden vexation, and I am afraid some indisposition, must be the cause of her

n. I will deal again, and th

but that was all; and his wife felt the presence of a superior force to her own, and was checked into silence. I had always felt sure that there was a reserve of force in the timid nature of our Coach which seemed to peep forth at times and then retire again. It was curious to mark on these rare occasions how the more boisterous s

tion of gunpowder with lucifer matches in a high temperature could hardly be more dangerous than the meeting of Glenville and Barton in a mischievous mood. Before the last dance had commenced they had left the hall, and, as soon as they got outside, they found Miss Candlish's sedan chair in the custody of the two men who usually carried her to and fro when she attended the balls. Two other sedan chairs, several bath chairs and donkey chairs, and a couple of flys were in attendance. Aided by the magical influence of a small "tip," Glenville easily persuaded the men in charge that th

ness is quite overpowering. Ah, if all young men wer

lle, "for I am very soft hearted, espe

had a son like you

he air, could be seen emerging from the half buried chair. Glenville and Barton had run away before the chair fell, but, hearing the fall, looked back, and were at first spellbound with terror at what had happened. When, however, they saw the Drag emerge, they fairly fled for their lives by a circuitous way little frequented by night, and reached home just before the rest of us arrived. There was some alarm when Miss Candlish did not arrive for about twenty minutes or half an hour. Glenville and Barton told Thornton and myself what had happened, and wanted to know what they should do. Of course, we advised that they should say and do nothing, but wait upon the will of the Fates. They were in a great fright, and when Miss Candlish arrived in charge of two policemen their terror became wild. And yet they both said afterwards that they could hardly help laughing out loud. The pink muslin was draggled and besmeared with harbour mud, and torn half out of the gathe

ur party. Of course, the sedan men did not know what had happened. Porkington stoutly refused to let the policemen come into our study, and told them he should regard them as trespassers if they ventured to go into any other room. The Drag, although she declared she knew the two men, had no desire to bring the matter before the public. Porkington never said a word to any of us upon the subject, though he looked cross and nervous. As soon as the aunt had taken her departure (which