FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158  
159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   >>   >|  
a start, and a silence, broken by Annesley in a low voice: 'By Heavens it would be sublime, if practicable; but the difficulty does indeed seem insurmountable.' 'Why, we would not do it,' said the young Duke, 'if it were not difficult. The first thing is to get a frame for our picture, to hit upon some happy pretence for assembling in an impromptu style the young and gay. Our purpose must not be too obvious. It must be something to which all expect to be asked, and where the presence of all is impossible; so that, in fixing upon a particular member of a family, we may seem influenced by the wish that no circle should be neglected. Then, too, it should be something like a water-party or a fete champetre, where colds abound and fits are always caught, so that a consideration for the old and the infirm may authorise us not to invite them; then, too----' _Omnes_. 'Bravo! bravo! St. James. It shall be! it shall be!' 'It must be a fete champetre,' said Annesley, decidedly, 'and as far from town as possible.' 'Twickenham is at your service,' said the Duke. 'Just the place, and just the distance. The only objection is, that, by being yours, it will saddle the enterprise too much upon you. We must all bear our share in the uproar, for, trust me, there will be one; but there are a thousand ways by which our responsibility may be insisted upon. For instance, let us make a list of all our guests, and then let one of us act as secretary, and sign the invitations, which shall be like tickets. No other name need appear, and the hosts will indicate themselves at the place of rendezvous.' 'My Lords,' said Lord Squib, 'I rise to propose the health of Mr. Secretary Annesley, and I think if anyone carry the business through, it will be he.' 'I accept the trust. At present be silent as night; for we have much to mature, and our success depends upon our secrecy.' CHAPTER IX. _The Fete of Youth and Beauty_ ARUNDEL DACRE, though little apt to cultivate an acquaintance with anyone, called on the young Duke the morning after their meeting. The truth is, his imagination was touched by our hero's appearance. His Grace possessed all that accomplished manner of which Arundel painfully felt the want, and to which he eagerly yielded his admiration. He earnestly desired the Duke's friendship, but, with his usual _mauvaise honte_, their meeting did not advance his wishes. He was as shy and constrained as usual, and b
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158  
159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Annesley
 

meeting

 

champetre

 

present

 

health

 
silent
 
Secretary
 

accept

 
business
 

invitations


tickets

 

secretary

 
guests
 

rendezvous

 
propose
 

painfully

 
eagerly
 
yielded
 

Arundel

 

manner


possessed

 

accomplished

 

admiration

 

earnestly

 

wishes

 

constrained

 

advance

 

desired

 

friendship

 

mauvaise


appearance

 
Beauty
 

ARUNDEL

 

CHAPTER

 

mature

 
success
 

depends

 
secrecy
 

imagination

 
touched

morning
 

called

 
cultivate
 
acquaintance
 

purpose

 

obvious

 
expect
 

pretence

 
assembling
 

impromptu