Works of Charles Dickens - Charles Dickens [6553]
'Now, Theodosius,' said Miss Maria Crumpton, after that enlightened pamphleteer had nearly run the gauntlet of the whole company, 'I must introduce you to our new pupil.'
Theodosius looked as if he cared for nothing earthly.
'She's the daughter of a member of parliament,' said Maria.-- Theodosius started.
'And her name is--?' he inquired.
'Miss Brook Dingwall.'
'Great Heaven!' poetically exclaimed Theodosius, in a low tone.
Miss Crumpton commenced the introduction in due form. Miss Brook Dingwall languidly raised her head.
'Edward!' she exclaimed, with a half-shriek, on seeing the well- known nankeen legs.
Fortunately, as Miss Maria Crumpton possessed no remarkable share of penetration, and as it was one of the diplomatic arrangements that no attention was to be paid to Miss Lavinia's incoherent exclamations, she was perfectly unconscious of the mutual agitation of the parties; and therefore, seeing that the offer of his hand for the next quadrille was accepted, she left him by the side of Miss Brook Dingwall.
'Oh, Edward!' exclaimed that most romantic of all romantic young ladies, as the light of science seated himself beside her, 'Oh, Edward, is it you?'
Mr. Theodosius assured the dear creature, in the most impassioned manner, that he was not conscious of being anybody but himself.
'Then why--why--this disguise? Oh! Edward M'Neville Walter, what have I not suffered on your account?'
'Lavinia, hear me,' replied the hero, in his most poetic strain. 'Do not condemn me unheard. If anything that emanates from the soul of such a wretch as I, can occupy a place in your recollection--if any being, so vile, deserve your notice--you may remember that I once published a pamphlet (and paid for its publication) entitled "Considerations on the Policy of Removing the Duty on Bees'-wax."'
'I do--I do!' sobbed Lavinia.
'That,' continued the lover, 'was a subject to which your father was devoted heart and soul.'
'He was--he was!' reiterated the sentimentalist.
'I knew it,' continued Theodosius, tragically; 'I knew it--I forwarded him a copy. He wished to know me. Could I disclose my real name? Never! No, I assumed that name which you have so often pronounced in tones of endearment. As M'Neville Walter, I devoted myself to the stirring cause; as M'Neville Walter I gained your heart; in the same character I was ejected from your house by your father's domestics; and in no character at all have I since been enabled to see you. We now meet again, and I proudly own that I am--Theodosius Butler.'
The young lady appeared perfectly satisfied with this argumentative address, and bestowed a look of the most ardent affection on the immortal advocate of bees'-wax.
'May I hope,' said he, 'that the promise your father's violent behaviour interrupted, may be renewed?'
'Let us join this set,' replied Lavinia, coquettishly--for girls of nineteen CAN coquette.
'No,' ejaculated he of the nankeens. 'I stir not from this spot, writhing under this torture of suspense. May I--may I--hope?'
'You may.'
'The promise is renewed?'
'It is.'
'I have your permission?'
'You have.'
'To the fullest extent?'
'You know it,' returned the blushing Lavinia. The contortions of the interesting Butler's visage expressed his raptures.
We could dilate upon the occurrences that ensued. How Mr. Theodosius and Miss Lavinia danced, and talked, and sighed for the remainder of the evening--how the Miss Crumptons were delighted thereat. How the writing-master continued to frisk about with one- horse power, and how his wife, from some unaccountable freak, left the whist-table in the little back-parlour, and persisted in displaying her green head-dress in the most conspicuous part of the drawing-room. How the supper consisted of small triangular sandwiches in trays, and a tart here and there by way of variety;