Evan Harrington -- Volume 5

occasion; and Britons are the wisest of their race, for more than all others they take advantage of it. In this Nature is undoubtedly our guide, see

centives to the forgetfulness of troubles past and imminent, and produce a concentration of the faculties. They may not exactly pr

ers of the mine about to explode should lose their subterranean countenances. A generous abandonment to one idea prevailed. As for Evan, the first glass of champagne rushed into reckless nuptials with the music in his head, bringing Rose, warm almost as life, on his heart. Sublime are the visions of lovers! He knew he must leave her on the morrow; he feared he might never behold her again; and yet he tasted bliss, for it seemed within the contemplation of the Gods that he should dance

d of him: that he can play second fiddle without looking foolish, which, for my part, I call a greater triumph than if he were performing the heroics we are more accustomed to. He has steady eyes, can gaze at the right level into the eyes of others, and commands a tongue which is neither struck dumb nor set in a flutter by any startling question. The best instances to be given that he does not lack merit are that the Jocelyns, whom he has offended by his birth, cannot change their treatment of him, and that the hostile women, whatever they may say

she is not serious. It is mere spirit of opposition. She eats and drinks just like

would rather have her sit and sigh by the hour, and

of a silly country gi

eplied. 'A season in Lond

cheeks him she loved, as well as the woman she despised and had been foiled by. Still she had the consolation that Rose, seeing the vulgar mother, might turn from Evan: a poor distant hope, meagre and shap

is a pic-nic, Lady Jocely

o come within the term,' was the reply. 'On the

celyn. From what I can remember, pic-nic implies contributi

ad throttled the inward monitor that tells us when we are lying, so

'I have heard of that fashi

ar,' murmured M

took cold pie and claret. I clashed with half-a-dozen, but all the harm we did was to upset the dict

ly vulgar, claims rank above me!' The reflection generated contempt of Englis

t attack which aroused her

ess's benevolent passing gaze, and leaning forward, said: 'I hop

llude, may I beg to inquire? The Countess knew better. Rapid as light it shot through her that the relict of Si

performance with a mournful smile. All that a woman must feel at the demise of so precious a thing as a husband, was therein eloquently expressed: and at

ion of the throat. And I was so sorry I could not get down to him in time. I had not seen him since his marriage, when I was a gir

Countess his mission and business there: 'Then our vocation is at last revealed to us! Quinsey- doctor! I remember when a boy, wandering over the paternal mansion, and envying the life of a

the Conley girls, 'that quinsey is neede

he, but had not appa

the vacuous vulgar air of the woman told her that most probably she was but an instrument, not a confederate, and was only trying to push herself into acquaintance with the great: a proce

e behind the murmur of pleasure, if you will. The Countess had a not unfeminine weakness for champagne, and old Mr. Bonner's cellar was well and c

ught she might, or it may be that nature wa

with Sir Joh

now how amusing it is

s the dear Queen u

served Sir John, with emphasis, and the Count

or gave two or three

!' sh

e remark: whereupon

imat

d Tory in Sir Abraham,' said t

ible to the Countess by her putative father as the dinner had been by the great Mel? The deep, hard, level look of Juliana met the Countess's smile from time

n? Oh, I hope so!' came aft

l, Mrs. Perkins?' Lady Jocelyn aske

Perkins was checked, and the Countess in alarm, about to

that there is no conversation,' whispered the

middle-aged man, of a lawyer-like cast; and then Juliana nodded, and George Uplift touched his arm, and glanced hurriedly behind for cham

upon Seymour Jocelyn, the Countess asked touchingly for news of the partridges. It was like the unlocking of a machine. Seymour was not blythe in his reply, but he was loud and forcible; and when he came to the statistics-oh, then you would have admired the Countess!-for comparisons ensued, braces were enumerated, numbers given were contested, and the shooting of this one jeered at, and another's sure mark respectfully admitted. And how lay the coveys?

be something of a sho

d that foolish Andrew told the story, and the Countess, to revive her subject, had

esiding dame. 'Ladies, apply immed

f from the point. A portion of her mind she keeps to combat them in Lady Jocelyn and others who have the tendency: the rest she divides between internal-prayers for succour, and casting about for another popular subject to follow partridges. Now, mere talent, as critics say when they are lighting candles round a genius, mere talent would have hit upon pheasants as the natural sequitur, and then diverged to sports-a great theme, for it ensures a chorus of sneers at foreigners, and so on probably to a discussion of birds and beasts best adapted to enrapture the palate of man. Stories may succeed, but they are doubtful, and not to be trusted, coming after cookery. After an exciting subject which has made the general tongue to wag, and just enough heated the brain to cause it to cry out for spiced food-then start your story: taking care that it be mild; for one too marvellous stops the tide, the sense of climax being strongly implanted in all bosoms. So the Countess told an anecdote-one

attack was directed against her guest

drowned in the

that persists in serving up

'Mr. Farnley's cousin was the steward

wn to heroes and great generals in action when they feel sure that resources within them

nley explained, 'very great. I heard that this l

nd Mrs. Shorne gave her the shade of a sh

s Jenny Graine at the m

t him, to see that hi

ss bre

lder branc

nd moving in their seats was heard. The Countess watched Mr. Farnley's mystifi

sure of relating her sufferings in days to come. This vista was before her when, harsh as an execution bell, telling her

immediately, as if the p

, whose first thought was to spare the fa

was no more than the leng

ould not help criticizing her mother's curtsey to Lady Jocelyn. Fine,

, and thanked heaven that sh

out of the one she best loved. For this purpose, heedless of all pain to be given, or of impropriety, she had come

hear he has been playing the lord in your house, my lady. I humbly thank your ladyship for your kindness to him, but he is nothin

t spirit, Rose's eyes fixed on Evan. He met them. The words of Ruth passed through his heart. But the Countess, who had given Rose to Evan, and the Duke to Caroline, where was her supporter? The Duke was entertaining Ca

others before the fruits and wines? All eyes were hateful-the very thought of Providence confused her brain. Almost reduced to imbecility, the Countess imagined, as a reali

nd made attempts at conversation. Mrs. Mel sat u

scrutinized Mrs. Mel, and then examined Evan, and Rose thought that in his interchange of glances with any one there was a lurking revival of the scene gone by. She signalled with her eyebrows for Drummond to correct him, but Drummond had another occupation. Andrew made the diversion. He whispered to his neighbour, and the

tain coming in-couldn't stop to stop hi

mmit of Olympus, and his report proclaimed the advance in the direction of the Bull-dogs of a sma

conferred with her ladys

ietly, and passed round

n broke up

her to his mother. She turned lividly white, and went

e tables, but before the guests were out of ear-shot,

but to lie,' said her ladyship to Sir Franks, 'and

perplexed husba

Law

lifted his hat, de

s my wif

come from the A

e for my wi

ty for the wife of that cropped-headed, tight-skinned lunatic at large, but deeper was the Countess's pity for Lady J

is not

foundly, trailing his broad

this, madam,' he said, a

brows as she gathered th

handwriting!'

is regretted. My wife runs away from her bed, madam, and I have the law, madam, the law is with the husband. No force!' He lashed his cane sharpl

a tangent all over the country in se

came ten times more

tess to say: 'Her ladyship doe

Sir John. They began

when you talk reason t

frantic person should be treated. The case indeed looked urgent. Many gentlemen considered themselves bound to approach and be ready in ca

l not st

The cane and hat were

for you a gentleman of the law.

ss and offered her his arm. The Countess smilingly waved back Sir John, who motioned to attend on her, and away she wen

not admi

elyn, 'they are a remarkable fa

ctory; yea, though Demogorgon, aided by the vindictive ghost of Sir Abraham, took tangible shape in the ranks opposed to her. True, Lady Jocelyn, forgetting her own recent intrepidity, condemned her as a liar; but the fruits of the Countess's victory were plentiful. Drummond Forth, fe

I don't say you wrote it-I don't think you could have written it. But, to tell you the truth, I have an u

to repeat it. He met her ladyship's hand haughtil

mplete victory, the batt

he pic-nic more r

demand that after an exhibition of consummate deeds, time be

ITOR'S B

dder when you ta

ltz through life wi

grand ladies can m

in love wit

, and judged it by t

ratching, only

me that I d

up to the people t

ult to forgive

work togethe

ng alone-whic

bly honest, Tom, f

e of deceit. A life

you rightly, always

t contest when love h

another, and b

the subject of rising

it on purpose. Can'

ming of it, her cu

ny, and so, no do

ddle without l

e could only mea

can't understand i

things are t

sinned in i

n who always know t

re is no such thing

the certain disast

t of me? not a smal

emen could commit sl

ap your head