Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

man into the humiliating conviction of his own shadowy meagreness-his own utter insignificance, and which tell him—fearfully, eloquently, eternally, tell him there is a God!

CHAPTER XIII.

"She, too, in her mind

Those recollections cherished, and such thoughts
As though no hope allayed their bitterness."

SOUTHEY.

ON regaining the mansion, Inglis was in no slight degree surprised when informed of an arrival in the bulky personage of no other individual than Abel Greenham, of dry-salting notoriety! James was truly at a nonplus; and the question instantly suggested itself as to the manner in which they could in a summary yet polite way, get rid of the vulgar citizen. Gideon, in the fulness of his heart, had given him a general invitation; and the pent-up, smoke-breathing

Londoner, being desirous of an outing, as he termed it, called to mind his quondam friend Clynchiere, and without more ado, he chartered himself by the stage-coach, which thrice every week started from the Saracen's Head, to wend its way through the county of ; and, like unto all other persons and things coming southwards, and destined for Elleringay, he was in due course of time deposited at the Cross Roads' Inn. The day was unusually fine, and, as Abel had taken this journey for the especial benefit of his health, he determined to engulf as much fresh air, and take as much exercise, as the brief period of his rural sojourn would admit; consequently, after having blunted his appetite with bread and cheese, and having washed the same down with a copious potation of home-brewed, he seized his carpet-bag, and joyously trotted off towards the village.

It was indeed an unfortunate coincidence, thought Inglis, that the fat burgher had made a descent upon them precisely at a time when all such of their former acquaintance

could not better oblige them than by their absence; as it was very unpleasant to have to introduce such individuals to so distinguished a personage as the Count de Puffendoff.

"Hang it, Tishy," exclaimed James, aside to his wife, "that old Greenham has actually come from town to honour us with his elegant presence. It was indeed exceedingly foolish on the part of your father, not to stipulate a time for his visit. Precisely in that spirit of contradiction in which the fates so frequently order things, he has just come when we didn't want him.”

"Good gracious, James, you don't say so ?"

"I do, though."

"And I suppose that is his carpet-bag ?" "Yes! and as greasy as if it had on divers occasions been employed as the packing-case for his vaunted Westphalian hams !" replied Inglis, at the same time casting a scornful glance upon the baggage of the man-mountain, which had not yet been removed from the hall.

"I'll call papa, and know what he thinks, in this dreadful dilemma."

"No-no, never mind, Tishy-never mind. It shall not be said that we have infringed. the rights of hospitality. Leave the matter I have seen something of the world, and I'll manage it with the Count."

to me.

"Just as you please, dearest," returned Mrs. Inglis, very passively and very goodnaturedly, and as if she had the most consummate opinion of the clever capabilities of her James.

"Ah, my good friend Greenham, you've come at last. Well, we are I am sure delighted to see you at Elleringay! Allow me, Mr. Greenham, to introduce you to my very excellent friend, the Count de Puffendoff," said Inglis, cheerfully and chirpingly, as a cricket on the hearth, as soon as he had opened the drawing-room door, where he found the Count and the burly citizen conversing on the state of the weather and like general topics.

The Count elegantly rose from his chair, and somewhat condescendingly bowed to

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »