Evan Harrington -- Volume 7

, has been a chronicle of desperate heroism on the par

d and East; none excel friend Andrew Cogglesby, who, having fallen into Old Tom's plot to humiliate his wife and her sisters, simply for Evan's sake, and without any distinct notion of the terror, confusion, and universal upse

the ties of blood again

m sufficiently wise t

aughing matter to tell his solemn Harriet that he had been playing her a little practical joke. His temptations to give it up were incessant and most agitating; but if to a

e would just frighten the women a bit, get them down to Lymport for a week or so, and then announce that matters were not so bad with the Brewery as

. It was something beyond a joke, this! The intruder, perfectly docile, seeing that by accurate calculation every shake he got involved a bottle of wine for him, and ultimate compensation probably to the amount of a couple of sovereigns, allowed himself to be lugged up stairs, in default of summa

his forehead; and Old Tom's devilry fla

rson up here?' said Harrie

t his hand, and waggled his head; 'My-ple

to Mrs. Cogglesby, who gave Andrew a glance which was fu

as dismissed: whereat, as one delivered of noxious presences, the Countess rustled into sight. Not noticing Andrew, she lisped to Harriet:

from the room, and left An

t seem strange. The fact is stated that I may win for him the warm sympathies of the body of his countrymen. He was greeted by a piece

this?' Andrew brutally excla

ation to spare a lady's nerves, addressed to a ferocious brigand.

you must have butcher's bills; why, confound! why, you'l

bills dating from yes

s is paid

ill all household expenses be

ion, made his ideas spin. His imagination surged deliriously. He fancied himself at the Zoological Gardens, exchanging pathetic glances with a melancholy marmoset. Wonderfully like one the chop looked! There was no use in his trying to eat it. He seemed to be fixin

shouted at last, and p

!' were the admonishing interjections of the si

quit the room, sir?

ly person. 'Here, come along with me, Harry. A wife's a wife, I say-ha

her neck from his caress, and refused to go: but the words, 'Something particular to tell you,

ir; what

towering port, her commanding aspect, restored his courage. (There may be a contrary view of the case.) He enclosed her briskl

. Had he called her aside for this gratuitous

say. Mrs. Cogglesby marched back to her chair,

He stuck his fork in the blanched whiskera

s unn

to plain diet?' sai

rest. You are aware I partook of luncheon at mid-day with the Honourable and Reverend Mr.

intimate with dangerous people. 'And besides,' she added, 'Mr. Duffian is no longer "the Re

sdain nettled

to such a man! Oh! and it is false, Harriet quite! Renegade means one who has gone over to the Turks, my dear. I am almost certain I saw it in Johnson's Dictionary,

hrases she stood in need of, without impeaching her

hing as being too sever

emies call u

cause to complain

. Calumny may assail him; y

tractedly listening. He did no

ke the Martyrs, he will still continue the perfect nobleman. Stoned, I assure you that Mr. Du

s good?' said Harriet,

ss's l

in the cold tone of

, waking up a little and not wi

the Countess pursued her

for me, my dear?' Andrew humbly petitioned. 'This co

nded from the impenetra

'I have sealed up the key till an inventory

itors?' ro

the servants' beer,' M

own petard. Perceiving that she was sincerely acting according to her sense of

he be guilty of the discourtesy of leaving table without a bow or an apology, even if reduced to extremest poverty? No, indeed! which showed that, under all

his business

e are. And now, Louisa, putting my husband out of the question, what are your intentions? I don't understand bankruptcy, but I imagine they can do nothing

Countess, melodious

rned-yes. But I am no

tality. Renegades are not absolutely inhuman. They may be generous. I have n

claimed Harriet. 'What do you think I am made

ere,' said the Countes

ed his invitation fo

hreatening aspects. She gave her affirmat

ing to live

expressions! My hus

et dr

ouisa, that could

bankruptcy, assuredly. But would you have me drag

to have the remains of their dinner r

nd lace, and such like. To me, I know they do not belong now: but I will dispose of them to procure

ss which the Countess could per

ve, never!

ll you go

ous sentiments permit me to. A boy who has thwarted me at every turn!-disgraced us! Indeed, I find it difficul

children,' sa

mournfully

danger with Mr.

bt my virtue?' as

understand me. Mr. Duflian's moral re

he renegaded,'

d: 'You will leave that

m rightly punished. I do but quote Herbert Duffian's own words: he is no flatterer though you say he has such soft fingers. I am now engaged in a spir

ntess's spiritual contest, Mr

hance with men

mplains of fem

r own element, Louisa. Do

the Count

orld. I turn my sight to realms where caste is unknown. I feel no shame there of being a tailor's daughter. You see, I can bring my tongue to name the thi

about to fire off a gun, appeared to

ese! Cabbage! Sni

ons of cannon, that which reigned

as we heard of Evan at his first Lymport boys' school. You remember when he told us the story? He lisped a trifle then. "I'm the thon of a thnip." Oh! it was hell-fire to us, then; but now, wha

e rhapsody in a monotonous low tone: t

Now, Harriet, do you see what a truly religious mind can do for us in the way of comfort? Oh! I bow in gratitude to Herbert Duffian. I will not rest till I ha

She descanted further on spiritualism, and on the balm that it

s summed up her opinions: 'You

ld be just,' added the Countess; 'a

in a dangerou

ot disposed to accord; but now she knew herself strengthene

rame of mind, arrived Ca

ck

he rejoiced in the good fortune of him who had offended her! Though he was not crushed and ann

r it or not, I will lose no moment in hast

Andrew, and defended

ankrupts, you see, d

or say, the grudging credit he gave to the glorious news. Notwithstanding her calmness, the thoughts of Lymport had sickened her soul, and it was only for the sake

ved. 'Your measures are disconcerted. I will

ve; that's all I want,'

will receive us anywhere: his arms are open to his kindred: but to his hear

mean?' Harr

re elastic: ' We must all of us go down to the old shop and shake his hand there-ever

s, laughing. Harriet s

ifferent reason. She s

gape, she ran up to h

rs, and kissed him on

f you're too proud,

with her native rapidity, she said: 'What does it matter? They wil

ster, to ask plaintively 'Mayn't

ve them. Flushed and indignan

began. 'What can exc

ui

ear her talking to her y

shru

-he isn't an idiot-and to him we can make light of it

w. The shop, if not the thing, might still hav

when I was well off

a lesson since that, my dear. Half the aristocracy

omewhat resumed its empire: still she was fresh, and could at times be roguishly affectionate and she patted him, and petted him, and made much of him; slightly railed at him for his uxoriousness and domestic subjection, and proffered him her fingers to try the taste of. The truth must be told: Mr. Duflian not being handy, she in her renewed earthly hap

never kissed you

te Irish brogue, 'Why don't ye ca

ce, I assure yo

he hint immediately. Had he done so, the affair would have been over without

r mouth, Louy,

I keep for, my cho

and I must not preach lessons of life here: but I am obliged to remark that the husband must be proof, the sister-in-law perfect, where arrangements exist that keep them under one roof. She may be so like his wife! Or, from the knowledge she has of his circumstances, she may talk to him almost a

red pitiably: whereas the Countess jumped up, and pointing at him, asked her sister what she thought of that

ally imagine, of puny consequence, if any, did no less a thing than, subsequently, to precipitate t

broken her nose, tremendous results like these warn us to be careful how we wal

l, and who almost disliked her sister; in ten minutes the latter had set his head spinning! The whole of t

ion in her conjugal possessions could have despatched her to that hateful place, I doubt. She went: she would not let Andrew be out of her sight. Growing haughtier toward him at every step, she advanced to the strange old shop. EVAN HARRINGTON over the door! There the Countess, having meantime returned

habit, too,

Andrew Cogglesby? Pleasure of meeting you once in Fallow field! Remember Mr. Perk

wed him into

gar? No. Um! Well; Mr. Cogglesby, I may tell you that I hold here in my hands a document by which Mr. Evan Harrington transfers the whole of the property bequeathed to him to Lady Jocelyn, and that I have his ord

like an indignant bird, 'I think he's a damned young idio

digest his judgement,

ced back in