Page:Paul Clifford Vol 3.djvu/179

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
PAUL CLIFFORD.
171

at the same time, threw me into a profound reverie: I awoke, and became a Man of the World. I no longer resolved to be virtuous, and to hunt after the glory of your Romans and your Athenians—I resolved to become rich, powerful, and of worldly repute.

"I abjured my honest sizars, and, as I said before, I courted some rich 'Hats.' Behold my first grand step in the world! I became the parasite and the flatterer. What! would my pride suffer this? verily, yes, my pride delighted in it; for it soothed my spirit of contempt, to put these fine fellows to my use! it soothed me to see how easily I could cajole them, and to what a variety of purposes I could apply even the wearisome disgust of their acquaintance. Nothing is so foolish as to say the idle great are of no use; they can be put to any use whatsoever, that a wise man is inclined to make of them! Well, Julia, lo! my character already formed; family pride, disdain, and worldly ambition,—there it is for you:—after-circumstances only strengthened the impression already modelled. I desired, on leaving college, to go abroad; my father had no money to give me. What signified