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innocence； when； at the conclusion of the second glass；
papa says； 〃Jack； my boy； go out and see if the evening
holds up；〃 and the youth； willing to be free； yet hurt at
not being yet a man； quits the incomplete banquet。 James；
then a hobbadehoy； was now become a young man；
having had the benefits of a university education； and
acquired the inestimable polish which is gained by living in a
fast set at a small college； and contracting debts； and
being rusticated； and being plucked。
He was a handsome lad； however； when he came to
present himself to his aunt at Brighton； and good looks
were always a title to the fickle old lady's favour。 Nor did
his blushes and awkwardness take away from it： she
was pleased with these healthy tokens of the young
gentleman's ingenuousness。
He said 〃he had come down for a couple of days to see
a man of his college； andand to pay my respects to you；
Ma'am； and my father's and mother's； who hope you are
well。〃
Pitt was in the room with Miss Crawley when the lad
was announced； and looked very blank when his name
was mentioned。 The old lady had plenty of humour； and
enjoyed her correct nephew's perplexity。 She asked after
all the people at the Rectory with great interest； and said
she was thinking of paying them a visit。 She praised the
lad to his face； and said he was well…grown and very much
improved； and that it was a pity his sisters had not some
of his good looks； and finding； on inquiry； that he had
taken up his quarters at an hotel； would not hear of his
stopping there； but bade Mr。 Bowls send for Mr。 James
Crawley's things instantly； 〃and hark ye； Bowls；〃 she
added； with great graciousness； 〃you will have the
goodness to pay Mr。 James's bill。〃
She flung Pitt a look of arch triumph； which caused
that diplomatist almost to choke with envy。 Much as he
had ingratiated himself with his aunt； she had never yet
invited him to stay under her roof； and here was a young
whipper…snapper； who at first sight was made welcome
there。
〃I beg your pardon； sir；〃 says Bowls； advancing with a
profound bow； 〃what otel； sir； shall Thomas fetch the
luggage from？〃
〃O； dam；〃 said young James； starting up； as if in some
alarm； 〃I'll go。〃
〃What！〃 said Miss Crawley。
〃The Tom Cribb's Arms；〃 said James； blushing deeply。
Miss Crawley burst out laughing at this title。 Mr。
Bowls gave one abrupt guffaw； as a confidential servant
of the family； but choked the rest of the volley； the
diplomatist only smiled。
〃II didn't know any better；〃 said James； looking down。
〃I've never been here before； it was the coachman told
me。〃 The young story…teller！ The fact is； that on the
Southampton coach； the day previous； James Crawley had
met the Tutbury Pet； who was coming to Brighton to
make a match with the Rottingdean Fibber； and enchanted
by the Pet's conversation； had passed the evening in
company with that scientific man and his friends； at the inn
in question。
〃II'd best go and settle the score；〃 James continued。
〃Couldn't think of asking you； Ma'am；〃 he added；
generously。
This delicacy made his aunt laugh the more。
〃Go and settle the bill； Bowls；〃 she said； with a wave of
her hand； 〃and bring it to me。〃
Poor lady； she did not know what she had done！ 〃There
there's a little dawg；〃 said James； looking frightfully
guilty。 〃I'd best go for him。 He bites footmen's calves。〃
All the party cried out with laughing at this description；
even Briggs and Lady Jane； who was sitting mute
during the interview between Miss Crawley and her
nephew： and Bowls； without a word； quitted the room。
Still； by way of punishing her elder nephew； Miss
Crawley persisted in being gracious to the young Oxonian。
There were no limits to her kindness or her compliments
when they once began。 She told Pitt he might come to
dinner； and insisted that James should accompany her
in her drive； and paraded him solemnly up and down the
cliff； on the back seat of the barouche。 During all this
excursion； she condescended to say civil things to him：
she quoted Italian and French poetry to the poor
bewildered lad； and persisted that he was a fine scholar；
and was perfectly sure he would gain a gold medal； and
be a Senior Wrangler。
〃Haw； haw；〃 laughed James； encouraged by these
compliments； 〃Senior Wrangler； indeed； that's at the other
shop。〃
〃What is the other shop； my dear child？〃 said the lady。
〃Senior Wranglers at Cambridge； not Oxford；〃 said the
scholar； with a knowing air； and would probably have
been more confidential； but that suddenly there
appeared on the cliff in a tax…cart； drawn by a bang…up
pony； dressed in white flannel coats； with mother…of…pearl
buttons； his friends the Tutbury Pet and the Rottingdean
Fibber； with three other gentlemen of their acquaintance；
who all saluted poor James there in the carriage as he
sate。 This incident damped the ingenuous youth's spirits；
and no word of yea or nay could he be induced to utter
during the rest of the drive。
On his return he found his room prepared； and his
portmanteau ready； and might have remarked that Mr。
Bowls's countenance； when the latter conducted him to
his apartments； wore a look of gravity； wonder； and
compassion。 But the thought of Mr。 Bowls did not enter
his head。 He was deploring the dreadful predicament
in which he found himself； in a house full of old women；
jabbering French and Italian； and talking poetry to him。
〃Reglarly up a tree； by jingo！〃 exclaimed the modest
boy； who could not face the gentlest of her sexnot
even Briggswhen she began to talk to him； whereas；
put him at Iffley Lock； and he could out…slang the
boldest bargeman。
At dinner； James appeared choking in a white
neckcloth； and had the honour of handing my Lady Jane
downstairs； while Briggs and Mr。 Crawley followed
afterwards； conducting the old lady； with her apparatus of
bundles； and shawls； and cushions。 Half of Briggs's time
at dinner was spent in superintending the invalid's
comfort； and in cutting up chicken for her fat spaniel。 James
did not talk much； but he made a point of asking all
the ladies to drink wine； and accepted Mr。 Crawley's
challenge； and consumed the greater part of a bottle of
champagne which Mr。 Bowls was ordered to produce in
his honour。 The ladies having withdrawn； and the two
cousins being left together； Pitt； the ex…diplomatist； be
came very communicative and friendly。 He asked after
James's career at collegewhat his prospects in life
werehoped heartily he would get on； and； in a word；
was frank and amiable。 James's tongue unloosed with
the port； and he told his cousin his life； his prospects；
his debts； his troubles at the little…go； and his rows with
the proctors； filling rapidly from the bottles before him；
and flying from Port to Madeira with joyous activity。
〃The chief pleasure which my aunt has；〃 said Mr。
Crawley； filling his glass； 〃is that people should do as they
like in her house。 This is Liberty Hall； James； and you
can't do Miss Crawley a greater kindness than to do
as you please； and ask for what you will。 I know you
have all sneered at me in the country for being a Tory。
Miss Crawley is liberal enough to suit any fancy。 She
is a Republican in p