Page:Vivian Grey, Volume 2.djvu/183

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VIVIAN GREY.
173

don't know how much! Half the new world will be ruined; and in this old one, a most excellent fellow, my friend Ernest Clay. He was engaged to Premium's daughter—his dernière resource; and now, of course, it's all up with him."

"I was at College with his brother, Augustus Clay. He's a nephew of Lord Mounteney's, is he not?"

"The very same. Poor fellow! I don't know what we must do for him. I think I shall advise him to change his name to Clayville; and if the world ask him the reason of the euphonious augmentation, why, he can swear that it was to distinguish himself from his brothers. Too many roués of the same name will never do.—And now spurs to our steeds, for we are going at least three miles out of our way, and I must collect my senses, and arrange my curls before dinner; for I have to flirt with, at least, three fair ones."