MULCIBER SMITH. 521 



The saying of good things was again renewed. Compliments were 

 bandied about, kindly glances exchanged, snatches of love melodies 

 hummed, patch-work pastorals recited, and some terrific puns now and 

 then exploded such being the appointed and necessary condiments of all 

 water-party expeditions ; every body knows what they are, practically 

 or historically, and further record there needeth none. It will readily 

 be admitted that two ladies among four gentlemen are, numerically esti- 

 mated, a most unequal distribution ; but under existing circumstances, 

 no jealous rivalry, or reproachable distinction, occasioned discontent. 

 Mr. David Daniel Bute was the accredited slave of Miss Fanny Cloves, 

 and Mr. Stephenson Cloves, her brother, was the acknowledged admirer 

 of the admiring Miss Caroline Ogden (they are now all married, and 

 call each other " darlings" before company) so that, with this under- 

 standing, there arose neither complaint nor dissatisfaction. Thus, for 

 some considerable time, they ate, drank, chatted, and laughed, and the 

 repast at length drew to a conclusion the best cannot last for ever 

 and it was proposed to rise and "look about." A gradual pairing off 

 took place between the ladies and their lovers, an accident that always 

 happens under similar circumstances, which very mercifully leaves the 

 unprovided-for to do as they like. And this was the precise position 

 in which Mulciber and his friend Fred., speedily found themselves : 

 they were together, left to walk, or talk, or grumble, as they listed. 



"And now, Fred," said Mulciber, "we may have a little sober 

 gossip after all this mad revelry, it will be a relief; and first permit me 

 to ask what ails thee ? it is easy to detect that you are, at heart, dis- 

 pirited. Have you fallen in love, into debt, or a dilemna ? out with it 

 all, and make a clean breast. What oppressess you ? something has 

 occurred, I am sure. For three mortal weeks, Fred., or better, I have 

 not seen the light of thy countenance. What dire disaster hath befallen 

 thee. Say, and be condoled." 



" You are wrong, Mulcy, my boy" replied Fred, " wrong, most par- 

 ticularly wrong ; never was in finer spirits in my life ; but but the 

 fact is, I have something of moment here," and he touched his forehead 

 solemnly, with the four fingers of his left hand, " which absorbs every 

 faculty, Mulciber; strange that you and I should have met this day, 

 so unexpectedly on my part." 



" Fate !" said Mulciber, " and on mine, too." 



" It may even be so; but you were the very man I most wanted to 

 encounter. You can render me service, Mulciber ; your tact, your dis- 

 cretion, your good counsel, will be to me aids of great price, in an affair 

 of peril. I have counted upon them, and must secure them. It was 

 my intention to have called upon you to-day, but this silly excursion, 

 previously agreed upon, prevented." 



" By the way, Fred, who are these newly found friends of ours ? 

 They appear to be mighty presentable sort of people for rampant 

 cocknies." 



" Another time, Mulciber, and I will particularize, if need be ; enough 

 be it for the present that the event is the project of my gossip Bute, a 

 somewhat small fellow with large pretensions, whom I cannot afford to 

 lose ; he's a wrung in my laddder of life do you understand?" 



"Ay, well, then ! but of thyself. What new scrape, or what new 

 project, engages thy especial regard now ?" 



