Part 46 (2/2)
”It serves however,” continued Tom, ”to diversify our peregrinations; and if it is his pleasure to be in love, we will endeavour to chase pleasure in pursuit of the Lover, and if guided by honourable motives, which I cannot doubt, we will wish him all the success he can wish himself, only regretting that we are deprived of his agreeable company.
”Still free as air the active mind will rove, And search out proper objects for its love; But that once fix'd, 'tis past the pow'r of art To chase the dear idea from the heart.
'Tis liberty of choice that sweetens life, Makes the glad husband and the happy wife.”
~353~~ ”But come, let us forth and see how the land lies; many persons obtain all their notoriety from an elopement; it makes a noise in the world, and even though frequently announced in our newspapers under fict.i.tious t.i.tles, the parties soon become known and are recollected ever after; and some even acquire fame by the insertion of a paragraph announcing an elopement, in which they insinuate that themselves are parties; so that an elopement in high life may be considered as one of the sure roads to popularity.”
”But not always a safe one,” replied Bob.
”Life is full of casualties,” rejoined Dashall, ”and you are by this time fully aware that it requires something almost beyond human foresight to continue in the line of safety, while you are in pursuit of Real Life in London. Though it may fairly be said, 'That all the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely pa.s.sengers,' still they have their inside and their outside places, and each man in his time meets with strange adventures. It may also very properly be termed a Camera Obscura, reflecting not merely trees, sign-posts, houses, &c. but the human heart in all its folds, its feelings, its pa.s.sions, and its motives. In it you may perceive conceit flirting its fan--arrogance adjusting its cravat--pedantry perverting its dictionary--vacuity humming a tune--vanity humming his neighbour--cunning shutting his eyes while listening to a pedagogue--and credulity opening his eyes and ears, willing and anxious to be deceived and duped.”
”It is a strange world, indeed,” said Tallyho; ”and of all that I have ever heard or seen, this London of your's is the most extraordinary part.”
”Yes,--
”This world is a well-cover'd table, Where guests are promiscuously set; We all eat as long as we're able, And scramble for what we can get--”
answered his Cousin; ”in fact, it is like every thing, and at the same time like nothing--~354~~
”The world is all nonsense and noise, Fantoccini, or Ombres Chinoises, Mere pantomime mummery Puppet-show flummery; A magical lantern, confounding the sight;
Like players or puppets, we move On the wires of ambition and love; Poets write wittily, Maidens look prettily, 'Till death drops the curtain --all's over--good night!”
By this time they were at Long's, where, upon inquiry, all trace of Sparkle had been lost for two days. All was mystery and surprise, not so much that he should be absent, as that his servant could give no account of him, which was rather extraordinary. Tom ascertained, however, that no suspicion appeared to have been excited as to Miss Mortimer, and, with commendable discretion, avoided expressing a word which could create such an idea, merely observing, that most likely he had taken an unexpected trip into the country, and would be heard of before the day was out.
On leaving Long's however they were met again by Mortimer in breathless anxiety, evidently labouring under some new calamity.
”I am glad I have found you,” said he, addressing himself to Dashall; ”for I am left in this d------d wilderness of a place without a friend to speak to.”
”How,” inquired Ton, ”what the d------l is the matter with you?”
”Why, you must know that Merry well is gone--”
”Gone--where to?”
”To--to--zounds, I've forgot the name of the people; but two genteel looking fellows just now very genteely told him he was wanted, and must come.”
”Indeed!”
”Yes, and he told me to find you out, and let you know that he must become a bencher; and, without more todo, walked away with his new friends, leaving me forlorn enough. My Sister run away, my Uncle run after her--Sparkle absent, and Merrywell--”
”In the hands of the Nab-men--I see it all clear enough; and you have given a very concise, but comprehensive picture of your own situation; but don't despair, man, you will yet find all right, be a.s.sured; put yourself under my guidance, let the world wag as it will; it is useless to torment yourself with things you cannot prevent or cure.
”The right end of life is to live and be jolly.”
~355~~ Mortimer scarcely knew how to relish this advice, and seemed to doubt within himself whether it was meant satirically or feelingly, till Dashall whispered in his ear a caution not to betray the circ.u.mstances that had transpired, for his Sister's sake. ”But,” continued he, ”I never suffer these things, which are by no means uncommon in London, to interfere with my pursuits, though we are all somewhat at a loss.
However, as the post is in by this time, some news may be expected, and we will call at home before we proceed any further.--Where do you think the Colonel is gone to?”
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