"Well," said I, entering the room, as soon as I saw Sniggs departing across the lawn; "you have had a long spell with the doctor." "Yes," said Cuthbert, "such a misfortune!-upset the table-broke the bottle-played the very deuce!" "What, in a fit of enthusiasm ?" said I. "No," said Cuthbert; "ah! dear no-in moving my leg." "Well," said I," that matters little. I am not sorry that Sniggs has moved his legs." "You don't like Sniggs, Gilbert," said my brother. "Indeed I do,” replied I; "but toujours perdrix is too much of a good thing." "But he is not a partridge, Gilbert," said my brother. "No," said I, "nor a goose; but the very qualities for which you like his society, are those which make me less glad to see him than I otherwise should be. You like to hear all the gossip of the place, which he unquestionably gives you with point and precision: but whenever I hear his anecdotes of patients, and his details of their disorders, I always recollect that as he is universally agreeable, we, in our turns, with all our little foibles and failings, mental and bodily, become equally subjects of amusement for every body else in the neighbourhood." “Ah, well,” said Cuthbert, "there is something in that to be sure that never struck me before; but what have we about us that can be laughed at?" "Oh, my dear brother," said I, "lay not that flattering unction to your soul; rely upon it we are just as good subjects for satire and caricature as our neighbours." "Well, I don't see that," said my brother-" will you just ring the bell for Hutton? my shoe has got untied, and I want him to tie it for me. I am not conscious of saying or doing any thing to be laughed at for." I did as I was desired; for although the readiest way of saving my indolent brother the trouble of tying his own shoe would have been tying it for him myself, I knew enough of him to be aware that however importunate and continuous his demands upon the attentions of his servant might be, he would not permit me to inconvenience, or, as he would have thought it, fatigue myself by doing so. Hutton came-1 -tied the shoe-lifted the foot upon which it was worn, into its proper place on the sofa-and retired. "I am sorry now, that I asked Sniggs to come back and dine," said Cuthbert. So was I-not so much because, although Sniggs was really an agreeable and entertaining companion, he was coming to break in upon what had become to me the delightful homeishness of a really family party, or because Cuthbert's giving invitations without communicating with me, or even going through the ceremony of asking my concurrence, however certain it was never to have been withheld, perpetually reminded me more forcibly than was quite agreeable, of the real position in which I stood with regard to him. I knew that the odd things which he occasionally did in this way resulted from no feeling but an apathetic indolence of mind, which induced him to make just as much exertion as might secure for himself a certain quantum of amusement. Poor fellow, he had no wife to comfort or console him, and I often thought that the very sight of our domestic happiness, might perhaps unconsciously somehow worry and vcx him. From what I had gathered of his lost lady, she certainly did not, in any one point of person or character, resemble my dear Harriet; but still there was the contrast continually before his eyes. I therefore made every allowance for his wish to break in upon our serenity, which he could not himself enjoy, by the introduction of what were to him enlivening visiters. The Nubleys were almost always at dinner with us, or, if not," came in the evening," and, to be sure, they were generally counteracted by the Wells's; and this system of intervention and counteraction had the effect of amusing Cuthbert, although, as I admit, at the expense of my own comfort. Then there was another torment. Where was the absolute necessity of having Lieutenant Merman so constantly with us? Mrs. Wells had discovered that he had an extremely rich aunt; and now that Harriet was married-for well do I recollect being threatened with this very Lieutenant before she was-he appeared what mothers call an eligible match for Fanny. Him my wife undertook to invite; and if it were an eligible match for Fanny, and if she liked the man, and the man liked her, it was all very reasonable and natural that Harriet should wish to encourage it, especially as her father never made any secret of his strong prepossession in favour of the anti-Malthusian system of early marriages. But still it was a great nuisance to me: though I could not say so, because I knew the moment I raised an objection, Harriet would have sent Fanny away, and then, she would have been uncomfortable without her. I remember travelling once in a stage-coach which runs from London-no matter whither, with two remarkably nice young ladies:-the one in all the sparkling bloom of beauty; a sweet freshness glowed on her rosy cheeks, and love and laughter beamed in her radiant eyes; the other was pale and attenuated, her eyes were languid and downcast, and her weakness such, that she was literally lifted into the coach and laid, as it were, upon the seat opposite to that which her lively sister shared with me. She seemed to be kept alive only by cordial medicines, which were administered to her whenever we stopped to change horses. At the town where the rest of the passengers dined I got her some eau de Cologne, and her sister bathed her temples, and the sick girl looked grateful, and even wept; the pretty sister looked grateful, too, and I became extremely anxious to know more of their history. At one period, as the day advanced, and the termination of our journey approached, the invalid sank into a slumber, of which I took advantage to inquire the nature of her complaint. "Her case," said my fair companion, "is hopeless. She is returning to her native air, but it is rather to gratify a dying wish, than with any probability of success." 66 "What," said I, in a half-whisper, lest I should disturb the sleeper, "what is she suffering from?" "The physicians," replied my companion, "say that her heart is affected." "Ah!" said I, "aneurism ?" "No, sir," said my fair friend, shaking her head,— lieutenant." α I confess this non-medical description of the young lady's disease, (partaking largely, to be sure of "scarlatina,”) startled me not a little. However, I looked at her with different eyes afterwards, and endeavoured to convince her sister of the deep interest which I took in both of them. At a particular point of the journey I left them, and shook hands with them, not without wishing to hear more of them at some future time. It so happened that I did hear more of them; and, although any body who hereafter reads my notes may not care to hear it, it is satisfactory to myself to know that the poor invalid recovered, and by the next year was perfectly restored to health. Whether she arrived at this happy conclusion by putting herself under a regimen or into a regiment, I did not ascertain. As far as the simple fact goes, there it is. My sister-in-law Fanny did not appear to me at all a likely subject for a similar complaint-her present turn was to laugh at her lover. Every woman has her own tactics in the great business of female life; and Fanny sought to win by smiles at least if winning were her object;-and I must say I never saw any man more resolved upon her eventually becoming Mrs. Merman than her reverend father, who was assiduously re-enacting the drama in which-I-and Harriet had unconsciously performed some months before. These words bring me to a subject upon which I shall touch but lightly, because I may be disappointed; but as things look at present, it seems most probable that I shall attain to the dignity of a father "before four moons have filled their horns." A thousand new ties will then bind me to the world-a thousand new duties devolve upon me. Well! I have thus early in life seen enough of the world to qualify me for a guardian and guide. To be sure, if I should have a son, he will not require much of my "guiding' for some years to come, and then I may look more sternly at the world's "follies," and become a severe parent, as the young beau generally becomes an old sloven; but I think I shall be able to make my son, my friend;- -a course of education most favourable to a boy who is born while his father is yet young. 99 There are, however, men-and I could point out a very remarkable instance-who cannot bring themselves to such a line of proceeding-who see in their sons, rivals for "gol-. den opinions," and opponents in the race of life-who hear with no pleasure the shrewd remark, the pointed phrase, or witty observation of the youthful aspirant for fame and honour; but who, feeling as parents do towards their offspring, and would feel, if they lived to the age of Methuselah, that they are still children, endeavour to check and subdue the ebullitions of their genius, and keep them subject to themselves. Towards daughters, the feelings of a father are totally different no rivalry is to be feared there, consequently there is no jealousy. The more lovely, the more accomplished, and the more attractive a girl is, the more delighted is the fond father with her attractions. In some instances, mothers however are found somewhat to partake of the feelings * of fathers towards their sons, with regard to the young ladies. Many a poor creature has been embargoed into the nursery or the governess's room for at least four years after she ought to have been out, because she unfortunately happened to be born when her mamma was not more than se |
