Page:Lady Barbarity; a romance (IA ladybarbarityrom00snai).pdf/312

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passed his gay years bathed in the sunshine of applause and popularity; it was bitter that his end should be a dark night of contumely and neglect. Nothing could be more cruel or more wounding to this polished and successful man of fashion. Yet it amazed me to see how finely he took these rebuffs of fortune. His courage sat on him like a shining suit of mail. It filled my heart with tears to witness such cheerful bravery in the aged and the infirm.

"Well, papa," says I, turning to speech as a remedy against the weakness that strove to so insiduously reduce me, "I have sworn to save young Anthony, and never yet have I proved unequal to my word."

"'Tis never too late to create a precedent," says the Earl, "nor to enjoy a new experience. I have lived many years, but it is not until to-day that I have tasted the coldness of the world."

"I have always averred, you know," says I, with misfortune spurring me to my customary petulance; "that these sauer-kraut chewing boors from Hanover have no more breeding than a certain native beastliness that enables them to become like pigs, offensive to creatures of a nicer mind. But, after all, wit is the superior of power; and if I cannot find a means whereby to thwart 'em, I must be content to lose the only husband I ever can accept. I will start for town to-morrow morning."

"No, don't do that," says his lordship, hastily; "I am sure it will be very ill advised. Pray wait until this cloud is over blown. You are too much