Author: Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Release Date: February 2005 [EBook #7597] [Yes,
we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This
file was first posted on January 7, 2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** Start of the project gutenberg
EBOOK the Caxtons, by Lytton, part
12 ***
This eBook was produced by Pat Castevens
and David Widger widger@cecomet.net
The Hegira is completed,—we have all taken
roost in the old Tower. My father’s books
have arrived by the wagon, and have settled themselves
quietly in their new abode,—filling up the
apartment dedicated to their owner, including the
bed chamber and two lobbies. The duck also has
arrived, under wing of Mrs. Primmins, and has reconciled
herself to the old stewpond, by the side of which
my father has found a walk that compensates for the
peach-wall, especially as he has made acquaintance
with sundry respectable carps, who permit him to feed
them after he has fed the duck,—a privilege
of which (since, if any one else approaches, the carps
are off in an instant) my father is naturally vain.
All privileges are valuable in proportion to the
exclusiveness of their enjoyment.
Now, from the moment the first carp had eaten the
bread my father threw to it, Mr. Caxton had mentally
resolved that a race so confiding should never be
sacrificed to Ceres and Primmins. But all the
fishes on my uncle’s property were under the
special care of that Proteus Bolt; and Bolt was not
a man likely to suffer the carps to earn their bread
without contributing their full share to the wants
of the community. But, like master, like man!
Bolt was an aristocrat fit to be hung a la lanterne.
He out-Rolanded Roland in the respect he entertained
for sounding names and old families; and by that bait
my father caught him with such skill that you might
see that if Austin Caxton had been an angler of fishes,
he could have filled his basket full any day, shine
or rain.
“You observe, Bolt,” said my father, beginning
artfully, “that those fishes, dull as you may
think them; are creatures capable of a syllogism;
and if they saw that, in proportion to their civility
to me, they were depopulated by you, they would put
two and two together, and renounce my acquaintance.”
“Is that what you call being silly Jems, sir?”
said Bolt. “Faith! there is many a good
Christian not half so wise.”
