1832.] The Sycophant. Ml 



would oblige his friend in return^ when he had a relative to dispose of: — 

 thus was his first promotion marred by his want of honest wisdom. 



Cunning said, " flirt with and secure the daughter — the eldcsl daugh- 

 ter, while you flatter the father and mother." — " Do not flirt," quoth 

 Wisdom, '' steady your eye and nerve your hand to one great purpose, 

 and suffer nothing to interfere with that." — " But if I marry the daugh- 

 ter," rephed Cunning—" You will starve," said Wisdom. But Cun- 

 ning laughed — not outwardly, but inwardly — and the tender token was 

 bestowed; and the baronet, taking Wisdom for his monitor, got rid of 

 his nephew in the course of the following week, considerately placing 

 him in a boarding-house, to be near the situation he had procured. 

 The head of the department where he was now drafted, was of a 

 different character and bearing from Sir Basil ; a man who from the 

 mere fact of being of low birth, looked coldly, though with a specious 

 diffidence, upon well-born and highly distinguislied persons ; one, 

 who like Sir Archy Macsycophant, was aye " booing, booing, booing," 

 yet while he bowed, he sneered, and from a habit of suspecting all, had 

 learned to think that he was himself suspected. In the mere act of 

 bowing he was likely to be out-done by Winterton, whom he imme- 

 diately regarded with jealousy, because in the first place he was of an 

 old family, and secondly, because it was in compliance with a request, 

 which from the quarter it came, might almost be considered a com- 

 mand, that he was now under his protection ; and his mean small mind 

 imagined that there must be some peculiar reason for Sir Basil's request. 

 " Why not provide for him in his own department ?" said he to his 

 wife, " there must be a motive for it ; doubtless he wishes to gain more 

 intimate information as to my proceedings." 



" Very likely," replied the lady ; " or, perhaps. Lady Monkton 

 Bearfoot, thinks by this means to make herself acquainted with my 

 principles of economy." 



" Psha !" retorted the husband, " your ideas revolve round one 

 subject, and one only!" forgetting that his own were precisely of the 

 same nature. How often in domestic life does the husband reproach 

 the wife for the very errors which he implanted, without reflecting 

 what the fruits would be. 



Winterton Bearfoot, had he possessed a little more wisdom, might 

 have overcome much prejudice, but as it was, he appeared (at least so 

 his superior thought) intent on foiling him with his own weapons. Did 

 a great man enter the office, Winterton out-Heroded Herod in his 

 attentions. Who was ever half so obsequious? Who ever hstened to 

 the worse than nothings which fell from titled lips, with so inclined a 

 body — so intent an ear — so homage-like a carriage.? Who laughed 

 and continually applauded the stale jests and antiquated " Joes," of an 

 expectant governor, with a tenth of the zeal and earnestness of Winter- 

 ton Bearfoot ! 



" The fellow leaves me nothing to do in the way of compUment," 

 said his nncXd'i^ friend (I sujjpose I may use the cant term for the occa- 

 sion) to his listening mate, one night after the departure of a dinner 

 party, in which the young official was of necessity included ; " did you 

 not notice the compliment he paid Lord Eatemup ? who is not only 

 a gourme, but a gourmajid : he was helped twice — yes, twice to soup, and 

 the second time that he called for turbot, asked particularly for the fins. 

 Winterton was so extraordinarily attentive to his wants, that at last his 

 lordship said, ' Sir, you make no dinner.' — ' Your pardon, my lord,' 



