Evan Harrington -- Volume 1

the muted house, and the card of Lady Racial, beari

who, on both sides, were vain of this rare couple, and would always descant on their beauty, even when they had occasion to slander their characters, said, to distinguish them, that Henrietta Maria had a Port, and Melchisedec a Presence: and that the union of a Port and a Presence, and such a Port and such a Presence, was so uncommon, that you might search England through and you would not find another, not even in the highest ranks of society. There lies some subtle distinction here; due to the minute perceptions which compel the gossips of

Subsequently she had committed the profound connubial error of transferring her affections, or her thoughts, from him to his business, which, indeed, was much in want of a mate; and while he squandered the guineas, she patiently picked up the pence. They had not lived unhappily. He was constantly courteous to her. But to see the Port at that sordid work considerably ruffled the Presence-put, as it were, the peculiar division between them; and to behave toward her as the same woman who had attracted his youthful ardours was a task for his magnificent mind, and may have ranked with him as an indemnity for his general conduct, if his reflections ever stretched so far. The townspeople of Lymport were correct in saying that his wife, and his wife alone, had, as they termed it, kept him together. Nevertheless,

ho one and all abused and adored the great Mel, to attribute his shortcomings pointedly to the ladies; which was as much as if their jealous generous hearts had said that he was sinful, but that it was not his fault. Mrs. Fiske caught the ca

was simply, 'Don

take poor Jacko, and comf

and had found time to correct one of his indiscretions before she could sigh and say, in the rear of her aunt's retreating figure, 'I certainly never would let myself, down so'; but Mrs. Harrin

to meet her as she entered the room, 'I have intruded upon

o her, and begged

a winning smile was cut, and she was still sufficiently yo

sad!' she continued. '

in need of sympathy, an

an you bear t

d expected to meet a woman much more like what she conceived a tradesman's wife would

r Jackson, my husband, thought, and indeed I imagined-

, my

ng to him, and will let him know we will use our best efforts to assist him in obtaining some position worthy o

a smile of gratitude. She replied: 'I hope my son will return in

for anything in the sha

ingt

aid not,

that of a clerk even-would

remained

rtably, and make a modest appearance in society; and your son, Mrs. Harrington,

u for the interest you

, Mrs. Harrington?' Lady Racial wa

nly to think of

uppose, Mrs. Harrington, but that I should anticipate he would have you t

me is not very

modest, respectable maintenance. My respect for your husband, Mrs. Harrington, makes me anxious to press

ld not be more than L

tainly not more.' The

at yearly, he can hardly support

yearly, Mrs.

so, and be saddled ti

y cannot

ssive niggardly thrift in the widow,

aid: 'There are his fathe

ther's

but above L4

lady's delicately gloved hand gently rose and

have to pay

nce. Presently she remarked: 'But, Mrs. Harri

cast disrespect on his father's memory,

! surely! what can th

pay it,

Mrs. Har

father's busin

ther? Preposterous! That was the lady's natural inward exclamation. She said, rather shrewdly, for on

son will have to conduc

od business, conducte

it, Mrs. Harrington? If he i

he widow's inflexible countenance was mild

eing the lady, after a short silence, quit her seat, she rose like

Racial. 'I hope, indeed, that his relatives and friends will

o pay them, my lady,'

visitor. 'You have hitherto used no efforts to p

-apprentice in London, my lady; and he is willing to inst

speech were obnoxious

he relinquish

I should so much have wished!-h

ery calmly

! I have known cases where death was dreadful! But a peaceful death is very beautiful! There

like to look upon h

en gleam at having her desi

Harrington! We esteeme

he door, and leading her into th

ation of three days, that havoc in his features might be hidden from men. In this array Lady Racial beheld him. The curtains of the bed were drawn aside. The beams of evening fell soft through the blinds of the room, and cast a subdued light on the figure of the vanquished warrior. The Presence, dumb now for evermore, was sadly illumined for its last exhibition. But one who looked closely might have seen that Time had somewhat spoiled that perfect fit which had aforetime been his pride; and now that the lofty spirit had departed, there had been extreme difficulty in persuading the sullen excess of clay to conform to the dimensions of those garments. The upper part of the chest alone would bear its buttons, and across one portion of the lower limbs an ancient seam h

orm of flesh were well-nigh done. At the feet of his master, Jacko, the monkey, had jumped up, and was there squatted, with his legs crossed, very like a tailor! The imitative wretch had got a towel, and as often as Lady Racial's handkerchief travelled to her eyes, Jacko's peery face was hidden, and you saw his lithe skinny body doing grief's co

the room. Then the wi

p, went to the door, an

bsence, Lady Racial ha

ad with her