"I am glad of it," said he, "for both their sakes, as such near relations must always reflect credit or disgrace on each other."
After this he began to speak of the beauties of Clifton; but, in a few moments, he was interrupted by a call from the company, to discuss the affair of the wager. Lord Merton and Mr. Coverley, though they had been discoursing upon the subject some time, could not fix upon the thing that satisfied them both.
When they asked the a.s.sistance of Lord Orville, he proposed that every body present should vote something; and that the two gentlemen should draw lots which, from the several votes, should decide the bet.
"We must then begin with the ladies," said Lord Orville; and applied to Mrs. Selwyn.
"With all my heart," answered she, with her usual readiness; "and, since the gentlemen are not allowed to risk their necks, suppose we decide the bet by their heads?"
"By our heads?" cried Mr. Coverley. "Egad, I don"t understand you."
"I will then explain myself more fully. As I doubt not but you are both excellent cla.s.sics, suppose, for the good of your own memories, and the entertainment and surprise of the company, the thousand pounds should fall to the share of him who can repeat by heart the longest ode of Horace?"
n.o.body could help laughing, the two gentlemen applied to excepted; who seemed, each of them, rather at a loss in what manner to receive this unexpected proposal. At length Mr. Coverley, bowing low, said, "Will your Lordship please to begin?"
"Devil take me if I do!" answered he, turning on his heel, and stalking to the window.
"Come, gentlemen," said Mrs. Selwyn, "why do you hesitate? I am sure you cannot be afraid of a weak woman? Besides, if you should chance to be out, Mr. Lovel, I dare say, will have the goodness to a.s.sist you."
The laugh now turned against Mr. Lovel, whose change of countenance manifested no great pleasure at the transition.
"Me, Madam!" said he, colouring; "no, really I must beg to be excused."
"Why so, Sir?"
"Why so, Ma"am!-Why, really-as to that,-"pon honour, Ma"am, you are rather-a little severe;-for how is it possible for a man who is in the house, to study the cla.s.sics? I a.s.sure you, Ma"am, (with an affected shrug) I find quite business enough for my poor head in studying politics."
"But, did you study politics at school, and at the university?"
"At the university!" repeated he, with an embarra.s.sed look; "why, as to that, Ma"am,-no, I can"t say I did; but then, what with riding,-and -and-and so forth,-really, one has not much time, even at the university, for mere reading."
"But, to be sure, Sir, you have read the cla.s.sics?"
"O dear, yes, Ma"am!-very often,-but not very-not very lately."
"Which of the Odes do you recommend to these gentlemen to begin with?"
"Which of the Odes!-Really, Ma"am, as to that, I have no very particular choice;-for, to own the truth, that Horace was never a very great favourite with me."
"In truth I believe you!" said Mrs. Selwyn, very drily.
Lord Merton, again advancing into the circle, with a nod and a laugh, said, "Give you joy, Lovel!"
Lord Orville next applied to Mrs. Beaumont for her vote.
"It would very agreeably remind me of past times," said she, "when bowing was in fashion, if the bet was to depend upon the best made bow."
"Egad, my Lord," cried Mr. Coverley, "there I should beat you hollow, for your Lordship never bows at all."
"And pray, Sir, do you?" said Mrs. Selwyn.
"Do I, Ma"am?" cried he; "why, only see!"
"I protest," cried she, "I should have taken that for a shrug, if you had not told me "twas a bow."
"My lord," cried Mr. Coverley, "let"s practise;" and then, most ridiculously, they pranced about the room, making bows.
"We must now," said Lord Orville, turning to me, "call upon Miss Anville."
"O no, my Lord," cried I; "indeed I have nothing to propose." He would not, however, be refused; but urged me so much to say something, that at last, not to make him wait any longer, I ventured to propose an extempore couplet upon some given subject. Mr. Coverley instantly made me a bow, or, according to Mrs. Selwyn, a shrug, crying, "Thank you, Ma"am; egad, that"s my forte!-why, my Lord, the Fates seem against you."
Lady Louisa was then applied to; and every body seemed eager to hear her opinion. "I don"t know what to say, I declare," cried she, affectedly; "can"t you pa.s.s me?"
"By no means," said Lord Merton.
"Is it possible your Ladyship can make so cruel a request?" said Mr. Lovel.
"Egad," cried Mr. Coverley, "if your Ladyship does not help us in this dilemma, we shall be forced to return to our phaetons."
"Oh!" cried Lady Louisa, screaming; "you frightful creature, you, how can you be so abominable?"
I believe this trifling lasted near half an hour; when at length, every body being tired, it was given up, and she said she would consider against another time.
Lord Orville now called upon Mr. Lovel; who, after about ten minutes"
deliberation, proposed, with a most important face, to determine the wager by who should draw the longest straw!
I had much difficulty to forbear laughing at this unmeaning scheme; but saw, to my great surprise, not the least change of countenance in any other person: and, since we came home, Mrs. Selwyn has informed me, that to draw straws is a fashion of betting by no means uncommon. Good G.o.d! my dear Sir, does it not seem as if money were of no value or service, since those who possess, squander it away in a manner so infinitely absurd?
It now only remained for Lord Orville to speak; and the attention of the company showed the expectations he had raised; yet, I believe, they by no means prevented his proposal from being heard with amazement; for it was no other, than that the money should be his due, who, according to the opinion of the judges, should bring the worthiest object with whom to share it!
They all stared, without speaking. Indeed, I believe every one, for a moment at least, experienced something like shame, from having either proposed or countenanced an extravagance so useless and frivolous. For my part, I was so much struck and affected by a rebuke so n.o.ble to these spendthrifts, that I felt my eyes filled with tears.
The short silence and momentary reflection into which the company was surprised, Mr. Coverley was the first to dispel, by saying, "Egad, my Lord, your Lordship has a most remarkable odd way of taking things."
"Faith," said the incorrigible Lord Merton, "if this scheme takes, I shall fix upon my Swiss to share with me; for I don"t know a worthier fellow breathing."
After a few more of these attempts at wit, the two gentlemen agreed that they would settle the affair the next morning.
The conversation then took a different turn; but I did not give it sufficient attention to write any account of it. Not long after, Lord Orville, resuming his seat near mine, said, "Why is Miss Anville so thoughtful?"
"I am sorry, my Lord," said I, "to consider myself among those who have so justly incurred your censure."
"My censure!-you amaze me!"
"Indeed, my Lord, you have made me quite ashamed of myself for having given my vote so foolishly, when an opportunity offered, if, like your Lordship, I had had the sense to use it, of showing some humanity."
"You treat this too seriously," said he, smiling; "and I hardly know if you do not now mean a rebuke to me."