Kenelm Chillingly, Book 4.

re not count the number of three-cornered notes showered upon him by the fine ladies who grow romantic upon any kind of celebrity; or the careful

the gain of any reputation at all. He might, had he so pleased, have easily established a proof that the prevalent though vague belief in his talents was not altogether unjustified. For the articles he had sent from abroad to "The London

incognito of the author, and Kenelm regarded with profound co

inted, so there are certain natures-and Kenelm Chillingly's was perhap

ophy altogether, and was now enjoying a holiday for life in the business of a public office. A minister in favour of whom, when in opposition, Mr. Welby, in a moment of whim, wrote some very able articles in a leading journal, had, on ac

t come and dine with me to-morrow, tete-a-tete. My wife is at St. Leonard's wit

Savarin: it was faultless; and the claret

id Welby, "with more tha

c canons of criticism. "The more realistic; these books pretend to be, the less real they are," said Kenelm. "I am half inclined t

up in earnest is generally a mistake, especially if one is in a passion. I was not in earnest and I was not in a passion when I wrote those articles to

ly thing to find that one's mind was influenced in

or right when I played that part. I think I am right now as a placeman. Let the world go its own way, provided the world lets you live upon it. I drain my wine to the lees, and cut down hope to the brief span of life. Reject re

t of the safe old roads which youth left to itself would take,-old roads skirted by romantic rivers and bowery trees,- directing them into new paths on long sandy flats, and then, when they are faint and fo

imself, his brougham stopped at the door of the mini

ded on the result of a motion about to be made the following week in the House of Commons. The great man stood at the entrance of the apartments to receive his guests, and among

manner the signs of care. The eye was absent, the cheek pinched, the brow furrowed. Kenelm turned away his looks, and glanced over the animated countenances of the idle loungers along commoner thoroughfares in life. Their eyes were not absent; their brows were not furrowed; their mind

etect symptoms of suppressed gout. You know my aphorism, 'noth

press on my choice of life that sour

strongly advise you to devote

te the

be different. But your mind is overcrowded with doubts and fantasies and

ts, fantasies, and crotchets. It was by your recommendation that I was placed under the tuition

is generation. Welby was the ablest representative of these ideas. It is a wondrous good fortune when the propagandist of the New Ideas is something more than a bookish philosopher,-when he is a thorough 'man of the wor

ulders the combination is not healthful: it clogs the blood and slackens the pulse. However, I must not be ungrateful; you meant kindly. Yes, I suppose Welby is practical:

ves in much now, except the two propositions: firstly, that if he accept the new ideas he will have power and keep it, and if he does not accept them power is out of the qu

the motion he is to resi

t will upset him; a good one in itself I am sure he must think

ill true, 'Party is the madness of

o gain their objects. In each party it is the many that control the few who nominally lead them. A man becomes Prime Minister because he seems to the many of his party the fitte

, and party is rather the madness

t is the more co

ses and decline to

ed there in a recess with Lady Glenalvon. He joined them, and after a brief interchange of a few commonplaces,

id brow; to his ear to hearken to the soft voice that ha

ble? We are now in the beginning of June, the fresh outburst of summer, when every day in the country is a delight to eye and ear, and we say, 'The season for

; but I love the country in

try house is full

awback. I never want com

always more conversable in the country than they are in town; or rather, we listen there to them with less distract

?-Lady Emily Be

lady is handsome. She will become the f

sk her if

saw but few English newspapers. I did, however, learn that

ch complimented on the excellent tone and taste of his speech. He

hed d

hing l

ver the cough, and fulfil

nt? If so, allow me to ask whether you have q

ten the

e never aske

that they were as hap

e me that

ey have had trouble, an

leigh! You make me u

onfined to his bed for many weeks; and, when at last he could move from it, was so weak as to be still unable to do any work. During his illne

Brute that I am, never to have thought of the duties I o

her received a proposal to exchange his property a

He closed wit

f the cottage so long as they paid rent, which we took care they did pay,-yet out of a very wicked spite he set up a rival shop in

e against so harmless

avers find

loured. "It was a revengef

compr

elsewhere. Will has recovered his health, and they are prospe

s?" said Kenelm, in a more tender voice and with a softe

whom they have to

, is it? Y

ay. They do not themselves know; they rather

dear Miss Travers, it is essential to my honour that I sh

rmission of their concealed benefa

and a voice whispered, "May I ask

u to add to the list of your acquaintances

ce in London drawing-rooms usually commences, Kenelm, obedient to a sign from Lady Gle

u left talking with Miss Trave

e s

ion. How his face brightens up as he talks

; he could be very much in love with a great fortune, and talk to the owner of it

ught

within that simple phrase! How happy would be our lives, how grand our