Evan Harrington -- Volume 7

along the drive in Society's Park on a fine frosty Sunday afternoon of midwinter. The quips and jokes of Franko were lively, and he looked into the ca

A further sign of immense depression in him was that instead of the creative, it was the critical faculty he exercised, and rather than reply to Franko in his form of speech, he scanned occasional lines and objected to particular phrases. He had clearly exchanged the sanguine for the bilious temperament, and was fast stranding on the rocky shores of prose. F

nko's profession. 'Wherefore so downcast! What a line! There! let's walk

ve!' cri

e!' Jack gloo

uel is the s

nced at t

he said sternly: but the subj

eakness, and you saw her smiling upon everybody, and she told you to be happy, and egad, when you came to reflect, you

alousy, methinks,' Frank

at the emp

ne fellow with a coat-tail straight to his heels, last week. She thought I should drive my curricl

, it's a good idea, though.' He took out a note-book and pencill

nach I'll a nation's ballads frame. I've spent my income in four months, and now I 'm living on my curricle. I underlet it. It 's like trade-it 's as

anko's most enco

lect that dazzles her. I 've got letters-she calls me clever. By Jove! since I gave up driving I've had thoughts of rushi

y astonished at this a

s?' he shrew

be my Poll

eat lady's

burst i

ard a carriage wherein, beautifully smiling opposite an elaborately reverend gentleman of middle age, the Countess de Saldar was sitting. This great lady is not to b

on. And then he hurried Franko along to the bridge, where, behold, the Co

ng- tailed raven's side? Follow her, Franko! See if he kisses her h

rs, singular luck, and superiority in the encounter of puns,

dge, and had not strolled far beneath the bare branches of one of the long

and it's not in nature for them to be satisfied. And yet, if I went up and attempted to please them all by ta

. Mrs. Strike reposed her fair hand upon his arm, and Juliana, with a timid glance of pleasure, walked ahead in Evan's charge. Close neighbourhood between the couples was not kept. The genius of Mr. Raikes was wasted in manoeuvres to lead his beautiful companion into places where he could be seen with her, and envied. It was, perhaps, more fla

action of their walk together would aid this beneficent process of

s is a day of meetings. Behold John Thomas in the rear-a tower of p

r, muffled in furs. She marched deliberately, looking coldly before her. E

aroline. 'Let us go.' Caroline e

to our carria

new that she had seen him. There was a consciousness in the composed outlines of her face as she passed: the indifference was too perfect. Let her hate him if she pleased. It recompensed him that the

r carriage. Juliana was not seen. Caroline requested her to nod to him once, but she woul

fended you

answered

o-

er subjects, knowing possibly that they woul

latter presently said, without mo

orgives her, and

ong thin hand, ' I pray

her repent i

d then fell a-weeping, and suffered herself to be

re better now?'

spered:

as only to kn

threatened to break to sobs, she added in a sweeter voice than was co

mournfully at her; and now Caroline knew what Juliana meant when she begg

sider what it was best to do with her. Caroline proposed to take her to Beckley without delay. Harriet was of o

s of esteem, on the other. Juliana said, she was but slightly ill, would soon recover. Entreated not to leave them before she was thoroughly re-established, and to consent to be looked on as one of the family, she sighed, and said it was the utmost she could hope. Of course the ladies took this compliment to themselves, but Evan began to wax in importance. The Countess thought it nearly time to acknowledge him, and supported the idea by a citation of the doctrine, that to forgive is Christian. It happened, however, that Harriet, who had less art and more will than her sisters, was inf

sked Caroline. 'Well, then, it is that I may see your

Twice a week a bunch of the best flowers that could be got were sorte

this, you know, without

g the heiress, Evan should declare that he did not love her? He did not, Caroline admitted as possible, but he might. He might learn to love her, and therefore he was wrong i

r themselves, or the

e may be, I have not reckoned. I rather fear it lies on the opposite shore. From a youth to a girl, it may yet be very tender; the more so, because their ages commonly exclude such a sentiment, and nature seems willing to make a transition stage of it. Evan wrot

k, my poor child?' sa

h! I would give a

hought that she ma

ou think I am very patient?'she asked

at the feverish anxiety she showed for a re

e remark caused Juliana to exclaim: 'Prisoners have

d to look surprised, and failing, her thin lips quivered;

hing; but the flame which burned wi

tters, were quite a

et; petty doubts requiring elucidations. And the Countess, kind as her sentiments had grown toward the afflicted creature, was compelled to proclaim her densely stupid in material affairs. For the Countess had an itch of the simplest feminine

urning-ring on her finger,

itude to my excellent d

ing, embalms our dear l

cy,' as she observed, reveal to her who had prompted Mrs. Bonner so to bequeath the Beckley estates as to

hich a young gentleman feels the want of in London more than elsewhere, Harry began to have thoughts of his own, without any instigation from his aunts, about devoting himself to business. So he sent his card up to his cousin, and was graciously met in the drawing-room by the Countess, who ruffled him and smoothed him, and would possibly have distracted his soul from business had

n't it, Juley? I think I shall g

a debasement of his worth and gentilit

. Harrington th

had the plu

rbade it, an

lor! What fools we were

ess been unkin

day, and don't want to.

I came

him with eyes and hands.

u coming back

very kind to me h

he dances like the deuce. They want me to go; but I ain't the sort of fig

y shaken and her reddened eyes. Some real emotion-perhaps the fear which healthy young people exper

said. 'It's nothing-only Wint

g. 'I know you've got pluck, or you

en was that?' s

ted to a time when he had n

ten. I was a fool-a scoundrel, if

ant money

mon

paid Mr. Har

e's always on your tongue. I'll tell you what, Jul

tly; 'don't bring your aunts wi

u, Juley. It's enough th

onded; 'and he is neithe

im called it up, he jumped from his chair, crying: 'Upon my honour, I'll tell yo

'Then all your friends must

pest; but now he could not say a word to her without being baffled in an elderly-sisterly tone exasperating him so far that he positively wished to marry her, and coming to the point, off

hing cherishes her first offer. She would believe a curate to be disinterested! But min

ne ask

tures are always attracted by the person. She thinks it to be Evan's qualities

has often been as a resurrection to some poor female invalids), there was Beckley Court, a splendid basis for future achievements. Reflecting in this fashion, the Countess pardoned her brother. Glowing hopes hung fresh lamps in her charitable breast. She stepped acros

sacrifice far exceeding Evan's. They nearly decided to summon him to the house: but the matter being broached at table one evening, Major

heart to join them? That was not in her power: but desiring to be lulled by a compromise, she devoted herself to make his relatives recei

Goren's shop, and Evan had to come out. The Count returned home extremely mystified. Once more the unhappy Countess was obliged to draw bills on the fabulous; and as she had recommenced the system, which was not without its fa

l. She was watched through the night by Caroline and th

let us send for a do

eems to be a lawyer

octor must be s

previse that the doctor does not

Louisa, and said:

ried the Cou

ll Lady Jocelyn the sta

untess cramped her long fingers. 'The child heard it f

sat rigid and square-jawed, a

e-the lawyer had gone. Without a word of protest Juliana a

y Brewery proved a basis most unsound? Where must they fall then? Al