Page:Paul Clifford Vol 1.djvu/148

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118
PAUL CLIFFORD.

bear all Mother Lobkins' drunken tantarums! Better have stayed with Mac Grawler, of the two!"

"You mistake me," answered Paul. "I mean solely to make it up with her, and get her permission to see the world. My ultimate intention is—to travel."

"Right!" cried Ned, "on the high-road—and on horseback, I hope!"

"No, my Colossus of Roads! No! I am in doubt whether or not I shall enlist in a marching regiment,—or (give me your advice on it) I fancy I have a great turn for the stage, ever since I saw Garrick in Richard. Shall I turn stroller?—It must be a merry life."

"O, the devil!" cried Ned. "I myself once did Cassio in a barn, and every one swore I enacted the drunken scene to perfection; but you have no notion what a lamentable life it is to a man of any susceptibility. No, my friend. No! There is only one line in all the old plays worthy thy attention—

"Toby or not toby,[1] that is the question."

"I forget the rest!"

  1. The highway.