Evan Harrington -- Volume 4

mport that the fair and well- developed Louisa Harrington, in her sixteenth year, did advisedly, and with the in

ot him into the presence of a clergyman, when he turned sulky; and when the pistol was again produced, the ceremony would have been performed, had not the outraged Church cried out for help. Some vowed that Mr. George had referred all questions implying a difference between himself and Mel to their mutual fists for decision. At any rate, Mr. George turned up in Fallow field subsequently; the fair Louisa, unhurt and with a quiet mind, in Lymport; and this amount of truth the rumours can be reduced to-that Louisa and Mr. George had been acquainted. Ru

what they don't want to remember, few men know much. Mr. George had thought, when he saw Mrs. Strike leaning to Evan, and heard she was a Harrington, that she was rather like the Lymport family; but the rea

guests at the table-p

e Countess had the dipl

oline was under the ch

ling in her position o

onversation, and commen

s to-day? I think politics a

gree with you,' said Melville, shaking his head

the Constitution': and Andrew laughed: 'They make Ra

flagged, fell, and was

Jocely

the flags yet? The great

ladies, and ladies would look

me of Barrington laug

don't call your uncle the

l,' quoth Har

him laughed a

t,' said Harry, whose w

ss's v

ed to Seymour, her n

lieve he had the support of Squire Uplift-George's uncle-and others. They must have done it for fun! Of course he did not get so

rked an old Dowager, the mother of Squire

l: 'After having his principles worked

ugh it, lamenting the misery of owning a notorious fathe

theme, while still, like a pertinacious cracker,

in the open air, I hear.

d there was a pr

suppose there would be no scandal in my telling somet

t!' exclaimed his Gr

ustic festivities, and one day a storm! all the ladies hurried their young mistress to the house where the young Habral had been awaiting her for ages. None so polished as he! Musicians started up, the floors were ready, and torches beneath them!-there was a feast of exquisite wines and viands sparkling. Quite enchantment. The girl-Queen was in ecstasies. She deigned a dance with the young Habral, and then all sat down to suppe

ghtly inclin

of one of the Queens-I forget her name. The difference between us and you

tess swam in the pleasure

tory?' interp

w rid of the Great Mel. For how could he have any, the remotes

ed to catch a word

rtissement they improvised at the Bodley race-ball, when the magnifice

er it perfectly. It was said that the magnificent

him up. 'They talked of prose

ould tell where the magnificent footm

ruck in; 'and the magic enve

ift gave a horse-laugh. He j

s your ladyship there, then? Why-ha! ha! why, you have seen th

e table, and rested her large grey eyes,

nd then the ladies a

t on, 'that was old M

it began?' murmu

ded at his pla

ed. 'Il y a des miracles, et j'en ai vu'. One's life seems more perfect when one has seen what nature can do. The fellow was stupe

esuscitated Mel, their father, and would not let the dead man die? Was not malice at the bottom of it? The Countess, though she hated Mr. George

his peace, and again

man you were speaking

onde

beau and Alcibiades, and the result is the Lymport Tailor:-he measures your husband in the morning: in the evening he

ociety?' said Mrs. Evremond

one but bachelor-tables, I can assure you. Oh! I remember him. They talked of

treated like a footman when he dressed like one. The fellow had some capital points. He fought two or three duels, and behaved like a man. Franks wouldn't

ve been Mel's

he idea of the admission of a tailor into society seemed very unnatu

could still make himself respected by his betters. He was honest, so far; he acknowledged his tastes, which were those of Franks, Melville, Seymour, and George-the tastes of a gentleman.

asn't so bad,' Mr. Ge

winter. He took him for a Russian nobleman-didn't find out what he was for a month or so. Says Mel, "Yes, I make clothes. You find the notion unpleasant; guess how disagreeable it is to me.

ot spoken a word, and had scarcely eaten a morsel during dinner, studied the sisters with serious eyes. Only when she turned them from

her to exchange bows over wine, in the fashion of that day, and the Countess went through the performance with finished grace and ease. Poor Andrew had all the time been

a Sartoriad,' said Dr

ed her ladyship; and as they exchanged talk unintelli

to have buried

the persecuted Countess perceived she had

Lymport in a day or two,

and flourishing her han

ob

you talk of it's being unnatural, his dining out at respectable tables. Why, I belie

her hands. 'A noble c

n's an

say he was more. Well, that was a fellow, a great gambler. I dare say you 've heard of him-Burley Bennet -him that won Ryelands Park of one of the royal dukes-died worth upwar

rly mixed up with tai

rin

e the facts,' s

hat, like any other young country squire, having got a subject he could talk on, he did not care to discontinue it

ey command the tongues of men and flow uninterruptedly. So it was with the great Mel upon this occasion. Curiosity was aroused about him. Aunt Bel agreed with Lady Jocelyn that she would have liked to

d Lady Jocelyn. 'He is to be regretted, Duke. You are right. The stuff was i

he mock magnifico than from any

l skin, said Aunt Bel, 'add the rhyme at your

d Lady Jocelyn. 'We will be tolerant to the tailor, and the Countess mu

'Oh!' affably out of her throat, dipped her

marquis, out of intermediate tailor! Isn't there something fine in his buffoon imitation of the real thing? I feel already th

antly, and had a common thought that it was ill-bred of her to hold forth in

leverness; 'old Mel wasn't only a buffoon, my lady, you know. Old Mel had his qualitie

stable,' Aunt Bel he

added Drummond, whose gravity did not prevent

o hands on the table resolutely. Dessert was laid, and, with a ful

vens. She stole a glance at Caroline, and was alarmed at h

y was the shrewd hand of the two. Oh-h-h! such a card! He knew the way to get into company without false pretences. Well, I told you, he had lots more than L100,000-some said two-and he gave up Ryelands; never asked for it, though he won it. Consequence was, he commanded the services of somebody pretty high. And it was he got Admiral Harrington made a captain, posted, commodore, admiral, and K.C.B., all in seven years! In the Army it 'd have been half the time, for the H.R.H. was stronger in that department. Now, I know old Burley promised Mel to leave him his money, and

he mysteries of origin

te honourable, you know, though there was a good deal of spangles on it, and whether a real H.R.H., or a Marquis, or a Viscount, I can't say, but-the offer was tempting to a tradesman. "No," says Mel; like a chap planting his flagstaff and sticking to it. I believe that to get her to go with him, Burley offered to make a will on the spot, and to leave every farthing of his money and property-upon my soul, I believe it to be true-to Mel and his family, if he'd let the gal

e apologetic passages, and emphasized the propitiatory 'before la

the bosom, and one behind her right ear. Her eyes were wide, her whole face, neck, and fingers, white as marble. The faintest tremor of a frown on her brows, and her shut lips, marked the continuation of some internal struggle, as if with her last conscious force she kept down a flood of tears and a wild outcry which it w

e 's Carry Harrington, old Mel's daugh