h was wanted at his aunt's table,
and how could he resist? He was the old lady's partner several times
during the night, and he had Somebody's own luck to be sure; and once
more he saw the dawn, and feasted on chickens and champagne at sunrise.

CHAPTER XXIX. In which Harry continues to enjoy Otium sine Dignitate

Whilst there were card-players enough to meet her at her lodgings and
the assembly-rooms, Madame de Bernstein remained pretty contentedly at
the Wells, scolding her niece, and playing her rubber. At Harry's age
almost all places are pleasant, where you can have lively company,
fresh air, and your share of sport and diversion. Even all pleasure is
pleasant at twenty. We go out to meet it with alacrity, speculate upon
its coming, and when its visit is announced, count the days until it and
we shall come together. How very gently and coolly we regard it towards
the close of Life's long season! Madam, don't you recollect your first
ball; and does not your memory stray towards that happy past, sometimes,
as you sit ornamenting the wall whilst your daughters are dancing? I,
for my part, can remember when I thought it was delightful to walk three
miles and back in the country to dine with old Captain Jones. Fancy
liking to walk three miles, now, to dine with Jones and drink his
half-pay port! No doubt it was bought from the little country-town
wine-merchant, and cost but a small sum; but 'twas offered with a kindly
welcome, and youth gave it a flavour which no age of wine or man can
impart to it nowadays. Viximus nuper. I am not disposed to look so
severely upon young Harry's conduct and idleness, as his friend the
stern Colonel of the Twentieth Regiment. O blessed idleness! Divine lazy
nymph! Reach me a novel as I lie in my dressing-gown at three o'clock in
the afternoon; compound a sherry-cobbler for me, and bring me a cigar!
Dear slatternly, smiling Enchantress! They may assail thee with bad
names--swear thy character away, and call thee the Mother of Evil; but,
for all that, thou art the best company in the world!

My Lord of March went away to the North; and my Lord Chesterfield,
finding the Tunbridge waters did no good to his deafness, returned to
his solitude at Blackheath; but other gentlemen remained to sport and
take their pleasure, and Mr. Warrington had quite enough of companions
at his ordinary at the White Horse. He soon learned to order a French
dinner as well as the best man of fashion out of