Marryat_Peter_Simple.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
to , and was excused in consideration
of circumstances; but, as soon as she could disengage herself her arms
were entwined round my neck, while was hanging on her father's.
disposed of the ladies, the gentlemen now shook hands, and
although we had not all appetites to finish our breakfasts, never was
there a happier quintette.
about an hour my solicitor returned, and congratulated me, and
immediately set about the necessary preparations. desired him to go
down immediately to , attend to the funeral of my uncle, and
the poor little boy who had paid so dearly for his intended advancement,
and take charge from my uncle's legal adviser, who remained in the
house. "dreadful accident in high life" found its way into the
papers of the day, and before dinner-time a pile of visiting cards was
poured in, which covered the table. next day, a letter arrived from
the , announcing that he had made out my commission as
post-captain, and trusted that would allow him the pleasure of
presenting it himself at his dinner-hour, at half-past seven. much
obliged to him: the "fool of the family" might have waited a long while
for it.
was reading this letter the waiter came up to say that a young
woman below wanted to speak to me. desired her to be shown up.
soon as she came in, she burst into tears, knelt down, and kissed my
hand. ", it's you--oh! yes--it's you that saved my poor husband
when was assisting to your ruin. a'n't punished for my wicked
doings--a'n't my poor boy dead?"
said no more, but remained on her knees sobbing bitterly. course
the reader recognises in her the wet-nurse who had exchanged her child.
raised her up, and desired her to apply to my solicitor to pay her
expenses, and leave her address.
" do you forgive me, ? 's not that have forgiven
myself."
" do forgive you with all my heart, my good woman. have been
punished enough."
" have, indeed," replied she, sobbing; "but don't deserve it all, and
more too? 's blessing, and all the saints' too, upon your head, for
your kind forgiveness, anyhow. heart is lighter." she quitted
the room.
had scarcely quitted the hotel, when the waiter came up again.
" lady, my lord, wishes to speak with you; but she won't give her
name."
", my lord, you seem to have an extensive female acquaintance,"
said the general.
" all events, am not aware of any that need be ashamed of.
the lady up, waiter."
a moment entered a fat unwieldy little mortal, very warm from
walking; she sat down in a chair, threw back her tippet, and then
exclaimed, " bless you, how you have grown! gemini, if can hardly
believe my eyes; and declare he don't know me."
" really cannot exactly recollect were had the pleasure of seeing you
before, madam."
", that's what said to , when went down in the kitchen,
`,' says , ` wonder if little will know me.'
says, ` think he would the parrot, marm.'"
" , believe," said , recollecting and the parrot,
although, from a little thin woman, she had grown so fat as not to be
recognisable.
"! so you've found me out, --my lord, ought to say. ,
need not ask after your grandfather now, for know he's dead; but as
was coming this way for orders, thought would just step in and see
how you looked."
" trust is well, ma'am. is he a bull or a bear?"
" bless you, --my lord, should say--he's been neither
bull nor bear for these three years. was obliged to _waddle_; if
didn't know much about bulls and bears, know very well what a _lame
duck_ is to my cost. 're off the , and is
set up as a coal merchant."
"!"
"; that is, we have no coals, but we take orders, and have
half-a-crown a chaldron for our trouble. says, it's a
very good business, if you only had enough for it. your
lordship may be able to give us an order. 's nothing out of your
pocket, and something into ours."
" shall be very happy when return again to town, .
hope the parrot is quite well."
"! my lord, that's a sore subject; only think of , when
we retired from the ', taking my parrot one day and selling it for
five guineas, saying, five guineas was better than a nasty squalling,
bird. be sure, there was nothing for dinner that day; but, as
agreed with me, we'd rather have gone without a dinner for a month, than
have parted with . we've looked up a little in the world,
saved up five guineas, by hook or by crook, and tried to get back
again, but the lady said she wouldn't take fifty guineas for him."
then jumped from her chair, saying, " morning, my
lord; 'll leave one of 's cards. would be so glad
to see you."
she left the room, laughingly asked me whether had any more
such acquaintances.
replied, that believed not; but must acknowledge that
was brought to my recollection, and was under some alarm lest she
should also come and pay me her respects.
next day had another unexpected visit. had just sat down to
dinner, when we heard a disturbance below; and, shortly after, the
general's servant came up in great haste, saying that there was a
foreigner below, who wished to see me; that he had been caning one of
the waiters of the hotel, for not paying him proper respect.
" can that be?" thought : and went out of the door and looked over
the banisters, as the noise still continued.
" must not come here to beat , can tell you," roared one
of the waiters. " do we care for your foreign counts?"
", canaille!" cried the other party, in a contemptuous voice, which
well knew.
", canal!--we'll duck you in the canal, if you don't mind."
" will!" said the stranger, who had hitherto spoken . "
me to observe--in the most delicate manner in the world--just to hint,
that you are a damned trencher-scraping, napkin-carrying,
shilling-seeking, up-and-down-stairs son of a bitch--and take this for
your impudence!"
noise of the cane was again heard; and hastened downstairs, where
found thrashing two or three of the waiters without
mercy. my appearance, the waiters, who were showing fight, retreated
to a short distance, out of reach of the cane.
" dear count," exclaimed , "is it you?" and shook him by the hand.
" dear , will you excuse me? but these fellows are
saucy."
" 'll have them discharged," replied . " a friend of mine, and
an officer of your rank and distinction, cannot come to see me without
insult, will seek another hotel."
threat of mine, and the reception gave the count, put all to
rights. waiters sneaked off, and the master of the hotel
apologised. appeared that they had desired him to wait in the
coffee-room until they could announce him, which had hurt the count's
dignity.
" are sitting down to dinner, count; will you join us?"
" soon as have improved my toilet, my dear lord," replied he "you
must perceive that am off a journey."
master of the hotel bowed, and proceeded to show the count to a
dressing-room.
returned up-stairs--" was the matter?" inquired '. "
nothing!--a little disturbance in consequence of a foreigner not
understanding ."
about five minutes the waiter opened the door, and announced
.
", ', you'll be puzzled," said ; and in came the count.
" dear ," said he, coming up and taking me by the hand,
"let me not be the last to congratulate you upon your accession. was
running up the channel in my frigate, when a pilot-boat gave me the
newspaper, in which saw your unexpected change of circumstances.
made an excuse for dropping my anchor at this morning, and
have come up post to express how sincerely participate in your good
fortune." then politely saluted the ladies and the
general, and turned round to ', who had been staring at him with
astonishment.
" , allow me to introduce '."
" the piper that played before , but it's a puzzle," said
', earnestly looking in the count's face. " and thunder! if
it a'n't !--my dear fellow, when did you rise from your grave?"
"," replied the count, as they shook each other's hands for
some time, " never went into it, . now, with your
permission, my lord, 'll take some food, as really am not a little
hungry. dinner, ', you shall hear my history."
secret was confided to the whole party, upon my pledging myself for
their keeping it locked up in their own breasts, which was a bold thing
on my part, considering that two of them were ladies.
count stayed with us for some time, and was introduced by me
everywhere. was impossible to discover that he had not been bred up
in a court, his manners were so good. was a great favourite with the
ladies; and his mustachios, bad , and waltzing--an accomplishment
he had picked up in --were quite the vogue. the ladies were
sorry when the count announced his departure by a .
left town, called upon the of the , and
procured for a first-rate, building--that is to say, ordered
to be built. he had often said he wished, as he was tired of the
sea, after a service of forty-five years. , obtained
leave of absence for him every year; and he used to make himself very
happy at . of his time was, however, passed on the lake,
either fishing or rowing about; telling long stories to all who would
join him in his water excursions.
fortnight after my assuming my title, we set off for : and
consented to my entreaties, that the wedding should take place
that day month. this hint ' spake; and to oblige me,
consented that we should be united on the same day.
' wrote to ; but the letter was returned by post,
with "dead" marked upon the outside. ' then wrote to one of his
sisters, who informed him, that would cross the bog one
evening when he had taken a very large proportion of whisky; and that he
was seen out of the right path, and had never been heard of afterwards.
the day appointed, we were all united; and both unions have been
attended with as much happiness as this world can afford. '
and are blessed with children, which, as ' observed, have come
upon us like old age, until we now can muster a large party in
the two families. general's head is white, and he sits and smiles,
happy in his daughter's happiness, and in the gambols of his
grandchildren.
, reader, is the history of , , no
longer the fool, but the head of the family, who now bids you farewell.