the pleasure of being made of—of being of
importance in your own country. For you are
young, well-born, and sufficiently handsome to be
an object of interest to mothers and to daughters;
while your name, and property, and interest, will
make you courted by men who want to borrow your money
and obtain your influence in your county. No,
Maltravers, stay in London—amuse yourself
your first year, and decide on your occupation and
career the next; but reconnoitre before you give battle.”
Maltravers was not ill-pleased to follow his friend’s
advice, since by so doing he obtained his friend’s
guidance and society. Moreover, he deemed it
wise and rational to see, face to face, the eminent
men in England, with whom, if he fulfilled his promise
to De Montaigne, he was to run the race of honourable
rivalry. Accordingly, he consented to Cleveland’s
propositions.
“And have you,” said he, hesitating, as
he loitered by the door after the stroke of twelve
had warned him to take his leave—“have
you never heard anything of my—my—the
unfortunate Alice Darvil?”
“Who?—Oh, that poor young woman;
I remember!—not a syllable.”
Maltravers sighed deeply and departed.
“Je trouve que c’est une folie
de vouloir etudier le monde en simple spectateur.
* * * Dans l’ecole du monde, comme dans cette
de l’amour, il faut commencer par pratiquer cc
qu’on veut apprendre."*—Rousseau.
* I find that it is a folly to wish to study the world
like a simple spectator. * * * In the school of the
world, as in that of love, it is necessary to begin
by practising what we wish to learn.
Ernest Maltravers was now fairly launched
upon the wide ocean of London. Amongst his other
property was a house in Seamore Place—that
quiet, yet central street, which enjoys the air without
the dust of the park. It had been hitherto let,
and, the tenant now quitting very opportunely, Maltravers
was delighted to secure so pleasant a residence:
for he was still romantic enough to desire to look
out upon trees and verdure rather than brick houses.
He indulged only in two other luxuries: his
love of music tempted him to an opera-box, and he had
that English feeling which prides itself in the possession
of beautiful horses,—a feeling that enticed
him into an extravagance on this head that baffled
the competition and excited the envy of much richer
men. But four thousand a year goes a great way
with a single man who does not gamble, and is too
philosophical to make superfluities wants.
The world doubled his income, magnified his old country-seat
into a superb chateau, and discovered that his elder
brother, who was only three or four years older than
himself, had no children. The world was very
courteous to Ernest Maltravers.
