Part 16 (2/2)

I would have held it out to the last; for ould not honour the cloth? But the thing could not be, and I fairly laid down my knife and fork in despair 'Lord! Mr Trevor! why you have not done?' was the general chorus 'There is another course co!'

It was in vain:that the engagehty heroes, hom I had entered the lists

The chiefs of Hooblets and canisters of bread, would have been unequal to the contest I had tiht I beheld hi in apoplexy; and Holy upon me:

So while he feeds, luxurious in the stall, The sov'reign of the herd is doo end with the second course The table was no sooner cleared of the cloth, and the racy ith double rows of glasses again placed in array, than ales, Indian conserves, and biscuits deviled, covered the board! To it again they fell, with unabating vigour! I soon found reason to leave them, but I doubt whether for three hours their mouths were once seen motionless! In the act of error its enormity escapes detection I had momentary intervals, in which I philosophised on the scene before me; but not deeply I was a partaker of the vice, and reat then as it is now

But there was another circuh indignation I was ignorant of the clerical maxim, that the absence of the profane washes the starch out of lawn

Hypocrisy avaunt! They are then at liberty to _unbend_! I was soon better infor still present, the ive the the to call up the devil of lust Allusions that were evidently their common-place table talk, and that approached as nearly as they durst venture to obscenity, were their pastiled in their throats, applied to Miss Wilusto, and, while they hypocritically avoided words which the ear could not endure, they taxed their dull wit to conjure up their corresponding ideas I must own that, in my mind, poor mother church at that usted with their impotent efforts to make their brain the common sewer of Joe Miller, I at last started up, with difficulty bridledmyself to the lady said, 'Shall we retire to your tea table, Miss Wilmot?' 'Ay, do, do!' replied the father in God

'Try, Liddy, if you can entertain Mr Trevor: ill stay by our bottle'

I led her out; and I leave the initiated to guess hat episcopal reverence All saints and their Mother were introduced, the moment the lady's back was turned

In the course of conversation with the lady, I thought I re traits of resemblance between her and rammar school, whose name also was Wilmot The nahts into that channel; and the fancied likeness between theer forbear to relate all that I knew concerning him, and to inquire if he were her relation?

While I spoke, she changed colour; and after some hesitation answered, 'he is my brother'--'And the nephew of his lordshi+p?'--

Her flushi+ngs and hesitation were increased 'I am sorry, madam,'

said I, 'if I have been indiscreet' She answered, in a feeble and inarticulate manner, 'he stands in the same relationshi+p to the bishop that I do'

The feelings of the lady turned uity of the reply 'I respected and loved your brother, madam,' continued I 'His stay was but short after I left the school, and I have not heard of him since Is he in London?'--'I believe so; but I do not knohere'

Every question gave additional pain, and I dropped the subject with saying, that I was happy to be acquainted with the sister of a man who had so essentially aided hest esteeet vent, and to relieve her I nitaries--ere--not drunk!

Beware of scandal! Caluled could estives No: I found the bishop relating one of the principal incidents of his life; which incident it was his practice to relate every day after dinner

'And so, Mr Dean, it was the first day, after I had been consecrated a bishop, that I appeared in entle of the Westminster boys] had never seen , it was the first day ofthe them on, they had placed theh the them on And you can't think, Mr Dean, what an alteration it entlemen as I passed, I assure you, when they saiththe first day ofthereatest respect you can think For as I tell you it was the first day ofthem on; so they had never seen me in them before; so, I assure you, they bowed and behaved with the greatest respect They seemed quite surprized, I made such an appearance! And so, I assure you, they bowed and behaved with the greatest respect; for as I was a saying, it was the first day ofthem on Perhaps, Mr Trevor, you never heard the story ofin my canonicals? I'll tell it you!'

His lordshi+p then began the story again He had not a single circumstance to add; yet he would not be stopped in his career byhim that I had heard the whole

His lordshi+p and the dean then began a discourse concerning the clubs, of which they were both members; with inquiries after and annotations on prebends, archdeacons, and doctors, that had the honour to gluttonize together on these occasions This, though highly a to them, was intolerable dulness to me, and I returned to Miss Wile was at the door, and he departed

He was a great lover of decoru to follow his example; but his lordshi+p joined us, and desiredto say towhat it could be, I readily coan to ask me, how I liked his niece? and to talk of this and the other young clergymen, who had risen in the church by reatly embarrassed I listened to hi to say He concluded his re me, that ould talk more on these subjects another time

While the dean had been present, the turn of the conversation was such that, though I made two or three aukward atte my defence of the articles I was now more successful, and his lordshi+p told me it ritten; certainly very ritten He had read it himself, and had consulted two or three very sound divines

I had no doubt of the fact, yet was glad to hear it confirmed, especially by testiood, and expressed my satisfaction 'Yes,' said his lordshi+p; 'your defence is very ritten, Mr Trevor; and I have so to say to you about that ht cap, niece! If you will be withat ten o'clock, Mr Trevor, we'll talk the thing over'

I then bade the lady and his lordshi+p good night, and returned to Bruton-street, withbishops, nieces, deans, articles, sound divines, the church, the sons of the church, sensuality, obscenity, and innue confusion and darkness of intellect