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the bedford-row conspiracy-第2章

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any a small withered old gentleman; with powder and large royal household buttons; who tripped at her elbow as a little weak…legged colt does at the side of a stout mare。 The little General had been present at about a hundred and twenty pitched battles on Hounslow Heath and Wormwood Scrubs; but had never drawn his sword against an enemy。  As might be expected; therefore; his talk and tenue were outrageously military。  He had the whole Army List by heartthat is; as far as the field…officers:  all below them he scorned。  A bugle at Gorgon Castle always sounded at breakfast; and dinner:  a gun announced sunset。  He clung to his pigtail for many years after the army had forsaken that ornament; and could never be brought to think much of the Peninsular men for giving it up。  When he spoke of the Duke; he used to call him 〃MY LORD WELLINGTONI RECOLLECT HIM AS CAPTAIN WELLESLEY。〃  He swore fearfully in conversation; was most regular at church; and regularly read to his family and domestics the morning and evening prayer; he bullied his daughters; seemed to bully his wife; who led him whither she chose; gave grand entertainments; and never asked a friend by chance; had splendid liveries; and starved his people; and was as dull; stingy; pompous; insolent; cringing; ill…tempered a little creature as ever was known。 With such qualities you may fancy that he was generally admired in society and by his country。  So he was:  and I never knew a man so endowed whose way through life was not safewho had fewer pangs of consciencemore positive enjoymentsmore respect shown to himmore favours granted to him; than such a one as my friend the General。 Her Ladyship was just suited to him; and they did in reality admire each other hugely。  Previously to her marriage with the baronet; many love…passages had passed between her and William Pitt Scully; Esquire; the attorney; and there was especially one story; a propos of certain syllabubs and Sally…Lunn cakes; which seemed to show that matters had gone very far。  Be this as it may; no sooner did the General (Major Gorgon he was then) cast an eye on her; than Scully's five years' fabric of love was instantly dashed to the ground。  She cut him pitilessly; cut Sally Scully; his sister; her dearest friend and confidante; and bestowed her big person upon the little aide…de…camp at the end of a fortnight's wooing。  In the course of time their mutual fathers died; the Gorgon estates were unencumbered:  patron of both the seats in the borough of Oldborough; and occupant of one; Sir George Grimsby Gorgon; Baronet; was a personage of no small importance。 He was; it scarcely need to be said; a Tory; and this was the reason why William Pitt Scully; Esquire; of the firm of Perkins and Scully; deserted those principles in which he had been bred and christened; deserted that church which he had frequented; for he could not bear to see Sir George and my Lady flaunting in their grand pew;deserted; I say; the church; adopted the conventicle; and became one of the most zealous and eloquent supporters that Freedom has known in our time。  Scully; of the house of Scully and Perkins; was a dangerous enemy。  In five years from that marriage; which snatched from the jilted solicitor his heart's young affections; Sir George Gorgon found that he must actually spend seven hundred pounds to keep his two seats。  At the next election; a Liberal was set up against his man; and actually ran him hard; and finally; at the end of eighteen years; the rejected Scullythe mean attorneywas actually the FIRST Member for Oldborough; Sir George Grimsby Gorgon; Baronet; being only the second! The agony of that day cannot be imaginedthe dreadful curses of Sir George; who saw fifteen hundred a year robbed from under his very nosethe religious resignation of my Ladythe hideous window…smashing that took place at the 〃Gorgon Arms;〃 and the discomfiture of the pelted Mayor and Corporation。  The very next Sunday; Scully was reconciled to the church (or attended it in the morning; and the meeting twice in the afternoon); and as Doctor Snorter uttered the prayer for the High Court of Parliament; his eye; the eye of his whole partyturned towards Lady Gorgon and Sir George in a most unholy triumph。  Sir George (who always stood during prayers; like a military man) fairly sank down among the hassocks; and Lady Gorgon was heard to sob as audibly as ever did little beadle…belaboured urchin。 Scully; when at Oldborough; came from that day forth to church。 〃What;〃 said he; 〃was it to him? were we not all brethren?〃  Old Perkins; however; kept religiously to the Squaretoes congregation。 In fact; to tell the truth; this subject had been debated between the partners; who saw the advantage of courting both the Establishment and the Dissentersa manoeuvre which; I need not say; is repeated in almost every country town in England; where a solicitor's house has this kind of power and connection。 Three months after this election came the races at Oldborough; and the race…ball。  Gorgon was so infuriated by his defeat; that he gave 〃the Gorgon cup and cover;〃 a matter of fifteen pounds。  Scully; 〃although anxious;〃 as he wrote from town; 〃anxious beyond measure to preserve the breed of horses for which our beloved country has ever been famous; could attend no such sports as these; which but too often degenerated into vice。〃  It was voted a shabby excuse。 Lady Gorgon was radiant in her barouche and four; and gladly became the patroness of the ball that was to ensue; and which all the gentry and townspeople; Tory and Whig; were in the custom of attending。  The ball took place on the last day of the races。  On that day; the walls of the market…house; the principal public buildings; and the 〃Gorgon Arms Hotel〃 itself; were plastered with the following: 〃Letter from our distinguished representative; William P。 Scully; Esquire; etc。; etc。                            〃HOUSE OF COMMONS:  June 1; 18。 〃MY DEAR HEELTAP;You know my opinion about horseracing; and though I blame neither you nor any brother Englishman who enjoys that manly sport; you will; I am sure; appreciate the conscientious motives which induce me not to appear among my friends and constituents on the festival of the 3rd; 4th; and 5th instant。  If _I_; however; cannot allow my name to appear among your list of stewards; ONE at least of the representatives of Oldborough has no such scruples。 Sir George Gorgon is among you:  and though I differ from that honourable Baronet on more than ONE VITAL POINT; I am glad to think that he is with you。  A gentleman; a soldier; a man of property in the county; how can he be better employed than in forwarding the county's amusements; and in forwarding the happiness of all? 〃Had I no such scruples as those to which I have just alluded; I must still have refrained from coming among you。  Your great Oldborough common…drainage and inclosure bill comes on to…morrow; and I shall be AT MY POST。  I am sure; if Sir George Gorgon were here; he and I should on this occasion vote side by side; and that party strife would be forgotten in the object of our common interestOUR DEAR NATIVE TOWN。 〃There is; however; another occasion at hand; in which I shall be proud to meet him。  Your ball is on the night of the 6th。  Party forgottenbrotherly unioninnocent mirthbeauty; OUR DEAR TOWN'S BEAUTY; our daughters in the joy of their expanding loveliness; our matrons in the exquisite contemplation of their children's bliss can you; can I; can Whig or Tory; can any Briton be indifferent to a scene like this; or refuse to join in this heart…stirring festival? If there BE such let them pardon meI; for one; my dear Heeltap; will be among you on Friday nightay; and hereby invite all pretty Tory Misses; who are in want of a partner。 〃I am here in the very midst of good things; you know; and we old folks like A SUPPER after a dance。  Please to accept a brace of bucks and a turtle; which come herewith。  My worthy colleague; who was so liberal last year of his soup to the poor; will not; I trust; refuse to taste a little of Alderman Birch's'tis offered on my part with hearty goodwill。  Hey for the 6th; and vive la joie!                 〃Ever; my dear Heeltap; your faithful                                  〃W。 PITT SCULLY。 〃P。S。Of course this letter is STRICTLY PRIVATE。  Say that the venison; etc。 came from a WELL…WISHER TO OLDBOROUGH。〃 This amazing letter was published; in defiance of Mr。 Scully's injunctions; by the enthusiastic Heeltap; who said; bluntly; in a preface; 〃that he saw no reason why Mr。 Scully should be ashamed of his action; and he; for his part; was glad to let all friends at Oldborough know of it。〃 The allusion about the Gorgon soup was killing:  thirteen paupers in Oldborough had; it was confidently asserted; died of it。  Lady Gorgon; on the reading of this letter; was struck completely dumb; Sir George Gorgon was wild。  Ten dozen of champagne was he obliged to send down to the 〃Gorgon Arms;〃 to be added to the festival。  He would have stayed away if he could; but he dared not。 At nine o'clock; he in general's uniform; his wife in blue satin and diamonds; his daughters in blue crape and white roses; his niece; Lucy Gorgon; in white muslin; his son; George Augustus Frederick Grimsby Gorgon; in a blue velvet jac
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