To these impulses must be added the complete ascendancy which his friend had long been accustomed to exercise over him—an ascendancy exerted in the beginning sorely at the expense of his friend′s vices, and was in nine cases out of ten looked upon as his designing tempter when he was indeed nothing but his thoughtless, light-headed tool.
The motives on the other side were something deeper than any which Richard Swiveller entertained or understood, but these being left to their own development, require no present elucidation. the negotiation was concluded very pleasantly, and Mr Swiveller was in the act of stating in flowery terms that he had no insurmountable objection to marrying anybody plentifully endowed with money or moveables, who could be induced to take him, when he was interrupted in his observations by a knock at the door, and the consequent necessity of crying ′Come in.′
The door was opened, but nothing came in except a soapy arm and a strong gush of tobacco. The gush of tobacco came from the shop downstairs, and the soapy arm proceeded from the body of a servant-girl, who being then and there engaged in cleaning the stars had just drawn it out of a warm pail to take in a letter, which letter she now held in her hand, proclaiming aloud with that quick perception of surnames peculiar to her class that it was for Mister Snivelling.
Dick looked rather pale and foolish when he glanced at the direction, and still more so when he came to look at the inside, observing that it was one of the inconveniences of being a lady′s man, and that it was very easy to talk as they had been talking, but he had quite forgotten her.
′Her. Who?′ demanded Trent.
′Sophy Wackles,′ said Dick.
′Who′s she?′
′She′s all my fancy painted her, sir, that′s what she is,′ said Mr Swiveller, taking a long pull at ′the rosy′ and looking gravely at his friend. ′She′s lovely, she′s divine. You know her.′
′I remember,′ said his companion carelessly. ′What of her?′
′Why, sir,′ returned Dick, ′between Miss Sophia Wackles and the humble individual who has now the honor to address you, warm and tender sentiments have been engendered, sentiments of the most honourable and inspiring kind. The Goddess Diana, sir, that calls aloud for the chase, is not more particular in her behavior than Sophia Wackles; I can tell you that.′
′Am I to believe there′s anything real in what you say?′ demanded his friend; ′you don′t mean to say that any love-making has been going on?′
′Love-making, yes. Promising, no,′ said Dick. ′There can be no action for breach, that′s one comfort. I′ve never committed myself in writing, Fred.′
′And what′s in the letter, pray?′
′A reminder, Fred, for to-night—a small party of twenty, making two hundred light fantastic toes in all, supposing every lady and gentleman to have the proper complement. It must go, if it′s only to begin breaking off the affair—I′ll do it, don′t you be afraid. I should like to know whether she left this herself. If she did, unconscious of any bar to her happiness, it′s affecting, Fred.
© e-libr.com
feedback