And the vivacious old man listened with the profoundest
appearance of interest to all the particulars of Clarence’s
animated detail. His vanity, which made him
wish to be loved, had long since taught him the surest
method of becoming so; and with him, every visitor,
old, young, the man of books, or the disciple of the
world, was sure to find the readiest and even eagerest
sympathy in every amusement or occupation. But
for Clarence, this interest lay deeper than in the
surface of courtly breeding. Gratitude had first
bound to him his adopted son, then a tie yet unexplained,
and lastly, but not least, the pride of protection.
He was vain of the personal and mental attractions
of his protege, and eager for the success of one whose
honours would reflect credit on himself.
But there was one part of Clarence’s account
of the last night to which the philosopher paid a
still deeper attention, and on which he was more minute
in his advice; what this was, I cannot, as yet, reveal
to the reader.
The conversation then turned on light and general
matters,—the scandal, the literature, the
politics, the on dits of the day; and lastly upon
women; thence Talbot dropped into his office of Mentor.
“A celebrated cardinal said, very wisely, that
few ever did anything among men until women were no
longer an object to them. That is the reason,
by the by, why I never succeeded with the former, and
why people seldom acquire any reputation, except for
a hat, or a horse, till they marry. Look round
at the various occupations of life. How few
bachelors are eminent in any of them! So you
see, Clarence, you will have my leave to marry Lady
Flora as soon as you please.”
Clarence coloured, and rose to depart. Talbot
followed him to the door, and then said, in a careless
way, “By the by, I had almost forgotten to tell
you that, as you have now many new expenses, you will
find the yearly sum you have hitherto received doubled.
To give you this information is the chief reason
why I sent for you this morning. God bless you,
my dear boy.”
And Talbot shut the door, despite his politeness,
in the face and thanks of his adopted son.
There is a great difference between seeking to raise
a laugh from everything, and seeking in everything
what justly may be laughed at.
Lord
shaftesbury.
Behold our hero, now in the zenith of distinguished
dissipations! Courteous, attentive, and animated,
the women did not esteem him the less for admiring
them rather than himself; while, by the gravity of
his demeanour to men,—the eloquent, yet
unpretending flow of his conversation, whenever topics
of intellectual interest were discussed, the plain
and solid sense which he threw into his remarks, and
the avidity with which he courted the society of all
distinguished for literary or political eminence,—he
was silently but surely establishing himself in esteem
as well as popularity, and laying the certain foundation
of future honour and success.
