按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
were to spend in festivity upon the island of Inch Coombe。
She bade Jean call on him； and； without mentioning her； invite him to
this party； from which； he must know； she would not be absent。
Jean Carnie entered his apartment； and at her entrance his mother； who
took for granted this was his sweetheart； whispered in his ear that he
should now take the first step； and left him。
What passed between Jean Carnie and Charles Gatty is for another chapter。
CHAPTER IX。
A YOUNG viscount with income and person cannot lie _perdu_ three miles
from Edinburgh。
First one discovers him； then another； then twenty； then all the world；
as the whole clique is modestly called。
Before； however； Lord Ipsden was caught； he had acquired a browner tint；
a more elastic step； and a stouter heart。
The Aberford prescription had done wonders for him。
He caught himself passing one whole day without thinking of Lady Barbara
Sinclair。
But even Aberford had misled him； there were no adventures to be found in
the Firth of Forth； most of the days there was no wind to speak of； twice
it blew great guns； and the men were surprised at his lordship going out；
but nobody was in any danger except himself； the fishermen had all
slipped into port before matters were serious。
He found the merchantmen that could sail creeping on with three reefs in
their mainsail； and the Dutchmen lying to and breasting it； like ducks in
a pond； and with no more chance of harm。
On one of these occasions he did observe a little steam…tug； going about
a knot an hour； and rolling like a washing…tub。 He ran down to her； and
asked if he could assist her； she answered； through the medium of a sooty
animal at her helm； that she was （like our universities） 〃satisfied with
her own progress〃； she added； being under intoxication； 〃that； if any
danger existed； her scheme was to drown it in the bo…o…owl；〃 and two days
afterward he saw her puffing and panting； and fiercely dragging a
gigantic three…decker out into deep water； like an industrious flea
pulling his phaeton。
And now it is my office to relate how Mr。 Flucker Johnstone comported
himself on one occasion。
As the yacht worked alongside Granton Pier； before running out； the said
Flucker calmly and scientifically drew his lordship's attention to three
points：
The direction of the windthe force of the windand his opinion； as a
person experienced in the Firth； that it was going to be worse instead of
better； in reply； he received an order to step forward to his place in
the cutterthe immediate vicinity of the jib…boom。 On this； Mr。 Flucker
instantly burst into tears。
His lordship； or； as Flucker called him ever since the yacht came down；
〃the skipper；〃 deeming that the higher appellation； inquired； with some
surprise； what was the matter with the boy。
One of the crew； who； by the by； squinted； suggested； 〃It was a slight
illustration of the passion of fear。〃
Flucker confirmed the theory by gulping out： 〃We'll never see Newhaven
again。〃
On this the skipper smiled； and ordered him ashore； somewhat
peremptorily。
Straightway he began to howl； and； saying； 〃It was better to be drowned
than be the laughing…stock of the place；〃 went forward to his place； on
his safe return to port； this young gentleman was very severe on open
boats； which； he said 〃bred womanish notions in hearts naturally
dauntless。 Give me a lid to the pot；〃 added he； 〃and I'll sail with Old
Nick； let the wind blow high or low。〃
The Aberford was wrong when he called love a cutaneous disorder。
There are cutaneous disorders that take that name； but they are no more
love than verse is poetry；
Than patriotism is love of country；
Than theology is religion；
Than science is philosophy；
Than paintings are pictures；
Than reciting on the boards is acting；
Than physic is medicine
Than bread is bread； or gold goldin shops。
Love is a state of being； the beloved object is our center； and our
thoughts； affections； schemes and selves move but round it。
We may diverge hither or thither； but the golden thread still holds us。
Is fair or dark beauty the fairest？ The world cannot decide； but love
shall decide in a moment。
A halo surrounds her we love； and makes beautiful to us her movements；
her looks； her virtues； her faults； her nonsense； her affectation and
herself； and that's love； doctor！
Lord Ipsden was capable of loving like this； but； to do Lady Barbara
justice； she had done much to freeze the germ of noble passion； she had
not killed； but she had benumbed it。
〃Saunders；〃 said Lord Ipsden； one morning after breakfast； 〃have you
entered everything in your diary？〃
〃Yes； my lord。〃
〃All these good people's misfortunes？〃
〃Yes； my lord。〃
〃Do you think you have spelled their names right？〃
〃Where it was impossible； my lord； I substituted an English appellation；
hidentical in meaning。〃
〃Have you entered and described my first interview with Christie
Johnstone； and somebody something？〃
〃Most minutely； my lord。〃
〃How I turned Mr。 Burke into poetryhow she listened with her eyes all
glisteninghow they made me talkhow she dropped a tear； he！ he！ he！ at
the death of the first baronhow shocked she was at the king striking
him when he was dying； to make a knight…banneret of the poor old fellow？〃
〃Your lordship will find all the particulars exactly related；〃 said
Saunders； with dry pomp。
〃How she found out that titles are but breathhow I answeredsome
nonsense？〃
〃Your lordship will find all the topics included。〃
〃How she took me for a madman？ And you for a prig？〃
〃The latter circumstance eluded my memory； my lord。〃
〃But when I told her I must relieve only one poor person by day； she took
my hand。〃
〃Your lordship will find all the items realized in this book； my lord。〃
〃What a beautiful book！〃
〃Alba are considerably ameliorated； my lord。〃
〃Alba？〃
〃Plural of album； my lord；〃 explained the refined factotum； 〃more
delicate； I conceive； than the vulgar reading。〃
Viscount Ipsden read from
〃MR。 SAUNDERS'S ALBUM。
〃To illustrate the inelegance of the inferior classes； two juvenile
venders of the piscatory tribe were this day ushered in； and
instantaneously； without the accustomed preliminaries； plunged into a
familiar conversation with Lord Viscount Ipsden。
〃Their vulgarity； shocking and repulsive to myself； appeared to afford
his lordship a satisfaction greater than he derives from the graceful
amenities of fashionable association〃
~ 〃Saunders； I suspect you of something。〃
〃Me； my lord！〃
〃Yes。 Writing in an annual。〃
〃I do； my lord；〃 said he； with benignant _hauteur。_ 〃It appears every
month_The Polytechnic。〃_
〃I thought so！ you are polysyllabic； Saunders； _en route！〃_
~ 〃In this hallucination I find it difficult to participate； associated
from infancy with the aristocracy； I shrink； like the sensitive plant；
from contact with anything vulgar。〃
~ 〃I see！ I begin to understand you； Saunders。 Order the dog…cart； and
Wordsworth's mare for leader； we'll give her a trial。 You are an ass；
Saunders。〃
〃Yes； my lord； I will order Robert to tell James to come for your
lordship