Guy Mannering [201]
friend and admirer, for so he has dubbed himself, Mr. Pleydell."
"Ah, Miss Julia," said Pleydell, offering his arm with an air of gallantry to conduct her into the eating-room, "the time has been--when I returned from Utrecht in the year i738--"
"Pray don't talk of it," answered the young lady,--"we like you much better as you are--Utrecht, in heaven's name!--I dare say you have spent all the intervening years in getting rid so completely of the effects of your Dutch education."
"Oh, forgive me, Miss Mannering," said the lawyer; "the Dutch are a much more accomplished people in point or gallantry than their volatile neighbours are willing to admit. They are constant as clock-work in their attentions."
"I should tire of that," said Julia.
"Imperturbable in their good temper," continued Pleydell.
"Worse and worse," said the young lady.
"And then," said the old beau garcon, "although for six times three hundred and sixty-five days, your swain has placed the capuchin round your neck, and the stove under your feet, and driven your little sledge upon the ice in winter, and your cabriole through the dust in summer, you may dismiss him at once, without reason or apology, upon the two thousand one hundred and ninetieth day, which, according to my hasty calculation, and without reckoning leap-years, will complete the cycle of the supposed adoration, and that without your amiable feelings having the slightest occasion to be alarmed for the consequences to those of Mynheer."
"Well," replied Julia, "that last is truly a Dutch recommendation, Mr. Pleydell--crystal--and hearts would lose all their merit in the world, if it were not: for their fragility."
"Why, upon that point of the argument, Miss Mannering, it is as difficult to find a heart that will break, as a glass that will not; and for that reason I would press the value of mine own--were it not that I see Mr. Sampson's eyes have been closed, and his hands clasped--for some time, attending the end of our conference to begin the grace.--And, to say the truth, the appearance of the wild-ducks is very appetising." So saying, the worthy counsellor sat himself to table, and laid aside his gallantry for awhile, to do honour to the good things placed before him. Nothing further is recorded of him for some time, excepting an observation that the ducks were roasted to a single turn, and that Mrs. Allan's sauce of claret, lemon, and cayenne, was beyond praise.
"I see," said Miss Mannering, "I have a formidable rival in Mr. Pleydell's favour, even on the very first night of his avowed admiration."
"Pardon me, my fair lady," answered the counsellor, "your avowed rigour alone has induced me to commit the solecism of eating a good supper in your presence; how shall I support your frowns without reinforcing my strength? Upon the same principle, and no other, I will ask permission to drink wine with you."
"This is the fashion of Utrecht also, I suppose, Mr. Pleydell?"
"Forgive me, madam," answered the counsellor; "the French themselves, the patterns of all that is gallant, term their tavern-keepers restaurateurs, alluding, doubtless, to the relief they afford the disconsolate lover, when bowed down to the earth by his mistress's severity. My own case requires so much relief, that I must trouble you for that other wing, Mr. Sampson, without prejudice to my afterwards applying to Miss Bertram for a tart;--be pleased to tear the wing, sir, instead of cutting it off--Mr. Barnes will assist you, Mr. Sampson,--thank you, sir--and, Mr. Barnes, a glass of ale, if you please."
While the old gentleman, pleased with Miss Mannering's liveliness and attention, rattled away for her amusement and his own, the impatience of Colonel Mannering began to exceed all bounds. He declined sitting down at table, under pretence that he never ate supper; and traversed the parlour, in which they were, with hasty and impatient steps, now throwing tip the window to gaze upon the dark lawn, now listening for the remote sound of the carriage advancing up the avenue. At length, in a feeling
"Ah, Miss Julia," said Pleydell, offering his arm with an air of gallantry to conduct her into the eating-room, "the time has been--when I returned from Utrecht in the year i738--"
"Pray don't talk of it," answered the young lady,--"we like you much better as you are--Utrecht, in heaven's name!--I dare say you have spent all the intervening years in getting rid so completely of the effects of your Dutch education."
"Oh, forgive me, Miss Mannering," said the lawyer; "the Dutch are a much more accomplished people in point or gallantry than their volatile neighbours are willing to admit. They are constant as clock-work in their attentions."
"I should tire of that," said Julia.
"Imperturbable in their good temper," continued Pleydell.
"Worse and worse," said the young lady.
"And then," said the old beau garcon, "although for six times three hundred and sixty-five days, your swain has placed the capuchin round your neck, and the stove under your feet, and driven your little sledge upon the ice in winter, and your cabriole through the dust in summer, you may dismiss him at once, without reason or apology, upon the two thousand one hundred and ninetieth day, which, according to my hasty calculation, and without reckoning leap-years, will complete the cycle of the supposed adoration, and that without your amiable feelings having the slightest occasion to be alarmed for the consequences to those of Mynheer."
"Well," replied Julia, "that last is truly a Dutch recommendation, Mr. Pleydell--crystal--and hearts would lose all their merit in the world, if it were not: for their fragility."
"Why, upon that point of the argument, Miss Mannering, it is as difficult to find a heart that will break, as a glass that will not; and for that reason I would press the value of mine own--were it not that I see Mr. Sampson's eyes have been closed, and his hands clasped--for some time, attending the end of our conference to begin the grace.--And, to say the truth, the appearance of the wild-ducks is very appetising." So saying, the worthy counsellor sat himself to table, and laid aside his gallantry for awhile, to do honour to the good things placed before him. Nothing further is recorded of him for some time, excepting an observation that the ducks were roasted to a single turn, and that Mrs. Allan's sauce of claret, lemon, and cayenne, was beyond praise.
"I see," said Miss Mannering, "I have a formidable rival in Mr. Pleydell's favour, even on the very first night of his avowed admiration."
"Pardon me, my fair lady," answered the counsellor, "your avowed rigour alone has induced me to commit the solecism of eating a good supper in your presence; how shall I support your frowns without reinforcing my strength? Upon the same principle, and no other, I will ask permission to drink wine with you."
"This is the fashion of Utrecht also, I suppose, Mr. Pleydell?"
"Forgive me, madam," answered the counsellor; "the French themselves, the patterns of all that is gallant, term their tavern-keepers restaurateurs, alluding, doubtless, to the relief they afford the disconsolate lover, when bowed down to the earth by his mistress's severity. My own case requires so much relief, that I must trouble you for that other wing, Mr. Sampson, without prejudice to my afterwards applying to Miss Bertram for a tart;--be pleased to tear the wing, sir, instead of cutting it off--Mr. Barnes will assist you, Mr. Sampson,--thank you, sir--and, Mr. Barnes, a glass of ale, if you please."
While the old gentleman, pleased with Miss Mannering's liveliness and attention, rattled away for her amusement and his own, the impatience of Colonel Mannering began to exceed all bounds. He declined sitting down at table, under pretence that he never ate supper; and traversed the parlour, in which they were, with hasty and impatient steps, now throwing tip the window to gaze upon the dark lawn, now listening for the remote sound of the carriage advancing up the avenue. At length, in a feeling