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which fell from him； and which； though vague； sounded friendlypoor
fellow； except when he had a brush in hand he was a dreamer。
This viscount； who did not seem to trouble his head about class dignity；
was to convert his mother from her aristocratic tendencies or something。
_Que sais…je？_ what will not a dreamer hope？
Lord Ipsden strolled along the sands； and judge his surprise； when；
attended by two footmen； he met at that time in the morning Lady Barbara
Sinclair
Lord Ipsden had been so disheartened and piqued by this lady's conduct
that for a whole week he had not been near her。 This line of behavior
sometimes answers。
She met him with a grand display of cordiality。
She inquired； 〃Whether he had heard of a most gallant action； that；
coupled with another circumstance〃 _（here she smiled）；_ 〃had in part
reconciled her to the age we live in？〃
He asked for further particulars。
She then informed him 〃that a ship had been ashore on the rocks； that no
fisherman dared venture out； that a young gentleman had given them his
whole fortune； and so bribed them to accompany him； that he had saved the
ship and the men's lives； paid away his fortune； and lighted an odious
cigar and gone home； never minding； amid the blessings and acclamations
of a maritime population。〃
A beautiful story she told him； so beautiful； in fact； that until she had
discoursed ten minutes he hardly recognized his own feat； but when he did
he blushed inside as well as out with pleasure。 Oh！ music of
musicpraise from eloquent lips； and those lips the lips we love。
The next moment he felt ashamed； ashamed that Lady Barbara should praise
him beyond his merits； as he conceived。
He made a faint hypocritical endeavor to moderate her eulogium； this gave
matters an unexpected turn； Lady Barbara's eyes flashed defiance。
〃I say it was a noble action； that one nursed in effeminacy （as you all
are） should teach the hardy seamen to mock at perilnoble fellow！〃
〃He did a man's duty； Barbara。〃
〃Ipsden； take care； you will make me hate you； if you detract from a deed
you cannot emulate。 This gentleman risked his own life to save othershe
is a hero！ I should know him by his face the moment I saw him。 Oh； that I
were such a man； or knew where to find such a creature！〃
The water came into Lord Ipsden's eyes； he did not know what to say or
do； he turned away his head。 Lady Barbara was surprised； her conscience
smote her。
〃Oh； dear；〃 said she； 〃there now； I have given you painforgive me； we
can't all be heroes； dear Ipsden； don't think I despise you now as I
used。 Oh； no！ I have heard of your goodness to the poor； and I have more
experience now。 There is nobody I esteem more than you； Richard； so you
need not look so。〃
〃Thank you； dearest Barbara。〃
〃Yes； and if you were to be such a goose as to write me another letter
proposing absurdities to me〃
〃Would the answer be different？〃
〃Very different。〃
〃Oh； Barbara； would you accept？〃
〃Why； of course not； but I would refuse civilly！〃
〃Ah！〃
〃There； don't sigh； I hate a sighing man。 I'll tell you something that I
know will make you laugh。〃 She then smiled saucily in his face； and said；
〃Do you remember Mr。？〃
_L'effronte'e！_ this was the earnest man。 But Ipsden was a match for her
this time。 〃I think I do；〃 said he； 〃a gentleman who wants to make John
Bull little again into John Calf； but it won't do。〃
Her ladyship laughed。 〃Why did you not tell us that on Inch Coombe？〃
〃Because I had not read _The Catspaw_ then。〃
_〃The Catspaw？_ Ah！ I thought it could not be you。 Whose is it？〃
〃Mr。 Jerrold's。〃
〃Then Mr。 Jerrold is cleverer than you。〃
〃It is possible。〃
〃It is certain！ Well； Mr。 Jerrold and Lord Ipsden； you will both be glad
to hear that it was； in point of fact； a bull that confuted the advocate
of the Middle Ages； we were walking； he was telling me manhood was
extinct except in a few earnest men who lived upon the past； its
associations； its truth； when a horrid bull gaveohsuch a bellow！ and
came trotting up。 I screamed and ranI remember nothing but arriving at
the stile； and lo； on the other side； offering me his arm with
_empressment_ across the wooden barrier was〃
〃Well？〃
〃Well！ don't you see？〃
〃Noohyes； I see！fancyah！ Shall I tell you how he came to get
first over？ He ran more earnestly than you。〃
'It is not Mr。 Jerrold this time； I presume；〃 said her satirical
ladyship。
〃No！ you cannot always have him。 I venture to predict your ladyship on
your return home gave this mediaeval personage his _conge'。〃_
〃No！〃
〃No？〃
〃I gave it him at the stile！ Let us be serious； if you please； I have a
confidence to make you； Ipsden。 Frankly； I owe you some apology for my
conduct of late； I meant to be reservedI have been rudebut you shall
judge me。 A year ago you made me some proposals； I rejected them because；
though I like you〃
〃You like me？〃
〃I detest your character。 Since then； my West India estate has been
turned into specie； that specie； the bulk of my fortune； placed on board
a vessel； that vessel lost； at least we think soshe has not been heard
of。〃
〃My dear cousin。〃
〃Do you comprehend that now I am cooler than ever to all young gentlemen
who have large incomes； and〃 （holding out her hand like an angel） 〃I must
trouble you to forgive me。〃
He kissed her lovely hand。
〃I esteem you more and more；〃 said he。 〃You ought； for it has been a hard
struggle to me not to adore you； because you are so improved； _mon
cousin。〃_
〃Is it possible？ In what respect？〃
〃You are browner and charitabler； and I should have been very kind to
youmawkishly kind； I fear； my sweet cousin； if this wretched money had
not gone down in the _Tisbe。〃_
〃Hallo！〃 cried the viscount。
〃Ah！〃 squeaked Lady Barbara； unused to such interjections。
〃Gone down in what？〃 said Ipsden； in a loud voice。
〃Don't bellow in people's ears。 The _Tisbe；_ stupid；〃 cried she；
screaming at the top of her voice。
〃Ri tum； ti turn； ti tum； tum； tum； tiddy； iddy；〃 went Lord Ipsdenhe
whistled a polka。
_Lady Barbara （inspecting him gravely）。_ 〃I have heard it at a distance；
but I never saw how it was done before。 _It is very； very pretty！！！！〃_
_Ipsden。 〃Polkez…vous； madame？〃_
_Lady Barb。 〃Si； je polke； Monsieur le Vicomte。〃_
They polked for a second or two。
〃Well； I dare say I am wrong；〃 cried Lady Barbara； 〃but I like you better
now you are a downrightahem！than when you were only an insipid
non…intellectualyou are greatly improved。〃
_Ips。_ 〃In what respects？'
_Lady Barb。_ 〃Did I not tell you？ browner and more impudent； but tell
me；〃 said she； resuming her sly； satirical tone； 〃how is it that you； who
used to be the pink of courtesy； dance and sing over the wreck of my
fortunes？〃
〃Because they are not wrecked。〃
〃I thought I told you my specie is gone down in the _Tisbe。〃_
_Ipsden。_ 〃But the _Tisbe_ has not gone down。〃
_Lady Barb。_ 〃I tell you it is。〃
_Ipsden。_ 〃I assure you it is not。〃
_Lady Barb。_ 〃It is not？〃
_Ipsden。_ 〃Barbara！ I am too happy； I begin to nourish such sweet hopes
once more。 Oh； I could fall on my knees and bless you for something you
said jus