Evan Harrington -- Volume 1

e days of obscuration had now passed, and who had come to be a major of that corps: secondly, presenting his addresses as a brewer of distinction: thirdly, and for a climax, as a Portuguese

rmed the widest possible circles around him. Not one of them ever approached the house of her parents. They were dutiful and loving children, and wrote frequently; but of course they had to consider their new position, and their husbands, and their husbands' families, and the world, and what it would say, if to it the dreaded rumour shou

rior, and visit one of them, you are as likely to receive his shot as any shopboy. Even masquerading lords at such places, have been known to be slain outright; and although Society allows to its highest and dearest to save the honour of their families, and heal their anguish, by indecorous compromise, you, if you are a trifle below that mark, must not expect it. You must absolutely give yourself for what you hope to get. Dreadful as it sounds to philosophic ears, you must marry. This, having danced with Caroline Harrington, the gallant Lieutenant Strike determined to do. Nor, when he became aware of her father's occupation, did he shrink from his resolve. After a month's hard courtship, he

retty language, signal

ture, was anxious that her sisters should not be less happy, and

non-presentable portion of his folly very satisfactorily from all save the mess-room, and Mr. Andrew's passion was a severe dilemma to him. It need scarcely be told that his wife, fortified by the fervid brewer, defeated him utterly. What was more, she induced him to be an accomplice in deception. For though the lieutenant protested that he washed his hands of it, and that it was a fraud and a snare, he certainly did not avow the condition of his wife's parents to Mr. Andrew, but alluded to them in passing as 'the country people.' He supposed 'the country people' must be asked, he said. The brewer of

a second time, and Horr

saloons, and how she, being a humorous person, laughed at his 'loaf' for her, and wore the colours that pleased him, and kindled and soothed his jealousy, little is known beyond the fact that she espouse

harms, had now to think of their one young brother.

lined. They then attacked the married Marine-Navy or Army being quite indifferent to them as long as they could win for their brother the badge of one Service, 'When he is a gentleman at once!' they said, like those who see the end of their labours. Strike basely pretended to second them. It would have been delightful to him, of course, to have the tailor's son messing at the same table, an

fession-that of gentleman-in the offices of the brewery, toying with big books and balanc

e time the Countess sailed over from Lisbon on a visit to her sister Harriet (in reality, it was whispered in the Cogglesby saloons, on a diplomatic mission from

nt. 'He has something of his father's carriage-so

nd always cited him as the example of a perfect gentleman, and yet they buried him with

at sort of a bow has he got, I ask you? How does he enter a room? And, then his smile! his laugh! He laughs like a horse- absolutely! There's no music

finger to the sides of her mout

than the rest of you; I acknowledge that. If he knew how to dress his shoulders properly, and to direct his eyes-Oh! the eyes! you should

under heavily vacuous orbits,

dbox of a man of yours, Caroline!' addressing the wife of the Marine, 'he looks as if he were all angles and sections, and were taken to pieces every night and put together in the morning. He may be a good soldier-good anything you will-but, Diacho! to be married to that! He is not civilized. None of you English are. You have no place

r her feelings generally, were a little excited, she spoke her vernacular as her si

a, one of the most beautiful men! Adored by every woman! So we talked ices, Eugenic and myself, quite comfortably, and that horrible De Pel had no idea in life! Eugenia had just said, "This ice sickens me! I do not taste the flavour of the vanille." I answered, "It is here! It must-it cannot but be here! You love the flavour of the vanille?" With her exquisite smile, I see her now saying, "Too well! it is necessary to me! I live on it!"-when up he came

s laughed out, b

genia did not dare to appear at Court, but had to remain immured in her country-house, where she heard that Belmarana had married De Pel! It was for h

seemed so entirely to have eclipsed tailordom, or 'Demogorgon,' as the Countess was pleased to call it. Who could suppose this grand- mannered lady,

on her complete escap

on them with a

your English embassy a month ago, and there was Admiral Combleman, then on the station off Lisbon, Sir Jackson Racial's friend, who was the Admiral at Lymport formerly. I knew him at once, and thought, oh! what shall I do! My heart was like a lump of lead. I would have given worlds that we might one of us have smothered the other! I had to sit beside him- it always happens! Thank heaven! he did not identify me. And then he told an anecdote of Papa. It was the dreadful old "Bath" story. I thought I should have died. I could not but fancy the Admira

he would have given her hand not to be. But few feelings are single on this gl

know how I could be so civil to that intolerable man. I gained a deal of credit, my dears. I laid it all on-Diplomacy.' The Countess laughed b

favourite claim of universal brotherhood amo

r money he was under eclipse almost total. On a gentleman the sun must shine. Now, Evan had no title, no money. The clouds were thick above the youth. To gain a title he would have to scale aged mountains. There was one break in his firmament through which

d, of course, but doesn't know yet how to set about getting it. She rather scandalizes our ladies, but when you know her!-She will have, they say, a hundred 'thousand pounds in her own right! Rose Jocelyn, the daughter of Sir Franks, and that eccentric Lady Jocelyn. She is with her uncle, Melville, the celebrated diplomate though, t

kingdom, and the sweetest creature. But, no. Evan would be out of the way there, certainly. But-our women are very nice:

tess's own, and she dropped

e Evan over with me, and see that he has opportunities. It shall be

the brilliant chance in store for him, offered no impediment to the proposition that he should journey to Portugal with his sister (whose subtlest flat

dress his shoulders properly, and to direct his eyes-rare qualities in man or woman, I assure you; the management of the mouth being especial

, the heiress; the Honourable Melville Jocelyn, the diplomate; and the Co