202 SOME GENTLEMAN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 



also, but in a less degree, detestable. Brussels one can bear, and 

 indeed for summer it is scarcely offensive ; no English gentleman, 

 however, can feel truly at home from the beginning of September 

 until the end of March, unless he treads upon Turkey. He who 

 doubts or denies this has never reached a certain station in society at 

 least so I think : what say you, my dear ?" 



" I agree with you," replied Mrs. Garnet ; who, however, judging 

 from her aspect, had been so occupied in the business of the break- 

 fast table, as not to have followed the current of my observations. I 

 therefore repeated them, because I always like to be understood. She 

 made the same answer as before. A pause ensued, during which she 

 fidgetted frightfully, creamed my coffee twice, and sweetened it three 

 or four times in rapid succession. 



Somewhat agitated, as any man of nice feeling would be, at the 

 display of such symptoms, I took her by the hand, and pressed her 

 most affectionately to tell me what had happened. " Nothing at all, 

 Dick," she replied, throwing her arm fondly around me. 



" Nay, nay, my love ; your tone, your look, those pale lips, that 

 evidently forced smile, this nervous agitation of your dear hand " 



"I had a sleepless night, you know, Dick/' 



" True : I had forgotten. A drive to Mitcham this sharp, clear, 

 October morning " 



" No, Dick, I had rather remain at home ; I feel chilly. Pray 

 poke the fire." 



I was- proceeding to obey her, when she almost snatched the in- 

 strument from my hand, and began to commit very energetic havoc 

 among the Wallsend, which, to tell the truth, would, as it struck me, 

 have done well enough without the least assistance. In fact, it burnt 

 beautifully. I stared, and perceiving from the asperity of her profile, 

 that all was not right within (for Mrs. Garnet, although deliciously 

 temperate in general, broke out into effusions peculiar to married 

 ladies, occasionally,) feeling that the atmosphere of her temper was 

 somewhat hot and cloudy, I decided on being absent until the ap- 

 proaching storm should have vented its wrath upon somebody ; and 

 protesting that I felt qualmish, and in want of fresh air, ventured to 

 order the cab. Our fellow had no sooner shut the door, than my wife 

 turned sharply upon me, and asked if I really proposed to venture 

 out and drive her own horse. 



" Certainly," said I. "I am perfectly well, you know. The 

 neighbours may perhaps be amazed to see me, after having been 

 confined to my room for so many years, venturing to drive such a 

 spirited steed, the very Hotspur of horses, as you state him to be, 

 and possessing such a name as that of Beelzebub : yet it is notorious, 

 that since my visit to Judge's chambers I have been recovering 

 rapidly, and within the last few days I have shown myself to all the 

 people opposite at the drawing-room windows. They see that I am 

 convalescent, why therefore should I not go out ? And why not ven- 

 ture to drive Beelzebub ? A lawyer, you know, is a match for but I 

 won't conclude the trite and offensive observation. Besides, if / can't 

 manage him, your groom, who has driven him these three years, of 

 course can, and he shajll go with me ; unless, indeed " 



