Page:Crotchet Castle - Peacock (1831).djvu/26

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
14
CROTCHET CASTLE.

traces of the thunderbolts of Heaven;" so that, contemplating their relative geological positions, the poor deserted damsel was flourishing on slate, while her rich and false young knight was pining on chalk.

Squire Crotchet had also one daughter, whom he had christened Lemma, and who, as likely to be endowed with a very ample fortune, was, of course, an object very tempting to many young soldiers of fortune, who were marching with the march of mind, in a good condition for taking castles, as far as not having a groat is a qualification for such exploits.[1] She was also a glittering bait to divers young squires expectant, (whose fathers were too well acquainted with the occult signification of mortgage,) and even to one or two sprigs of nobility, who thought

  1. "Let him take castles who has ne'er a groat."

    Pope, ubi suprà.