Volume I Part 20 (2/2)
”I should be sorry if you required my services in that way, Mrs.
Hilson.”
”Ah, but it would be a real obligation; I want to get rid of all but my Percy blood. Perhaps you don't know that our family is distinguished in its descent?”
”From 'old Mother Hubbard,'” thought young Van Horne; but he merely bowed.
”Yes, our ancestors were dukes of Percy, who were beheaded in Scotland for being faithful to their king. It is very possible we might claim the t.i.tle of a Scotch Peer.” Mrs. Hilson had read too many English novels, not to have a supply of such phrases at command. ”If you could only find the right vein, I would insist upon your taking away all but my patrician blood.”
”Would not the operation leave you too perfect, Mrs. Hilson?”
”Perhaps it might make me vain. But it could scarcely unfit me more for living in a republic. How I wish we were governed by a despot!--don't you?”
”Not in the least,”--'but I wish you were,' the young man added, to himself, as he moved away towards Jane and Elinor, who were in a corner talking to his sisters. ”All the fools in this country are not travelled fools, as I wish my father would remember,” he continued, as he edged his way through the crowd.
”And he that aye has lived free May not well know the misery, The wrath, the strife, the hate, and all, That's compa.s.sed in the name of thrall.”
{I have not identified this verse}
”You have mustered quite a pretty set of little plebeians 'ere to-night. Now, that's quite a nice-looking little creature standing by the door,” continued Captain k.o.c.kney; ”what do you call her?”
”Her name is Taylor--Adeline Taylor; they belong to the aristocracy too; shall I introduce you?”
”Is she married? If she is, I've no objections; but if she isn't, I had rather not. It's such a bore, you know, talking to girls--bread-and-b.u.t.ter misses!”
”How ungallant you are!”
”Ungallant! Why? I suppose you know it's a settled thing that none of US talk to girls in society. Most of them are so milk-and-water, and the rest are so deep, they're always fancying a man means something. Why, last spring we cut Lord Adolphus Fitz Flummery, of OURS, just because he made a fool of himself, dangling after the girls.”
”But don't gentlemen ever speak to an unmarried lady in England?”
”The saps do--but not your knowing ones. We make an exception though, in favour of a regular beauty, such as that little girl on the other side of the room; that Thomson girl, didn't you call her?”
”Miss Graham--you are difficult to please if nothing else will suit you. But of course it is natural for aristocratic minds to be fastidious.”
”To be sure it is, that's what makes us English aristocrats so exclusive. If that little Graham girl comes in our way though, I've no objection to making her acquaintance. And if you have got a great fortune here to-night, I'll make an exception for her--you may introduce me. Is there such a thing as an heiress in the room?”
”An heiress? No, I believe not--but Miss Taylor is quite a fortune.”
”Is she? Well then, you may introduce me there too. We have to do the civil to the rich girls, you know; because after a while most of us are driven into matrimony. That's the governor, I take it, near the door.”
”The governor? Oh, no, our governor does not live at Longbridge.”
”Doesn't he? Well, I thought you introduced him just now as the governor, and I fancied some one called him 'Ubbard; that's the governor's name, isn't it?”
”No, indeed. That's Pa you are speaking of.”
”Just so--that is what I said. You call your paternities PA, do you?--we always call the old fellows governors, in England.”
<script>