542 The Sycophant. [Nov. 



returned the popinjay, ' I leave that for my superiors— but too happy 

 to be enabled to wait on those whose rank and talent command so much 

 respect.' " 



" And how did it take?" inquied his lady. 



" Faith, not at all — Eatemup's a fool — yet the bait was too large for 

 even him to swallow — he never, during the whole dinner, asked him to 

 take wine !" 



" He made himself quite ridiculous by his sweet attentions to the 

 ladies Lycett," proceeded his wife ; " he praised the beauty of Lady 

 Jane's mahogany complexion, and eulogized Lady Emily's figure, 

 which every body knows is padded." 



" I wish the devil had him," exclaimed the husband. 



" The creature is perfectly harmless ;" opined the son, who had a 

 greater portion of sense than either parent, however strongly it might 

 be enveloped in the bandages of affectation, which so closely entwine 

 our modern youths. " Perfectly harmless — upon my honour !" and he 

 yawned, naturally too, as drawing his fingers through his fair and 

 perfumed curls, he leaned his elbow on the chimney-piece — to the let, 

 hindrance, and molestation, of the thousand and one knick-nackeries 

 which crowded its polished surface. 



" I do not think so," responded his father, in that decided tone which 

 papas resort too, when children presume to differ from them in a 

 favourite opinion. " I do not think so — but upon what do you ground 

 your assertion ?" 



" He is too mean, too anxious to produce an effect, without knowing 

 how to set about it — in short he is nothing but a si/cophant." 



" Humph ! he must go elsewhere for all that," persisted the father ; 

 " a little situation in the colonies." 



" Which I do not think his uncle would object to— upon my honour," 

 drawled forth the son, closing the drawing-room door and his obser- 

 vation at one and the same moment. 



And " the little situation in the colonies" was procured ; and the 

 youth shipped off, to the secret gratification of both parties concerned 

 in his departure. His uncle addressed the following epistle to his 

 brother, when Winterton went down previous to his departure, to take 

 leave of his family. 



" My dear Brother, — Winterton has now been not only with me, 

 but in the Colonial Office, as you ai-e aware, some months, and it is 

 with regret I assure you, he is unfit for our courtier-like existence — will 

 you believe it, brother Harold — he bows too much ! However, the 

 situation to which he is apjiointed is in eveiy way advantageous, and 

 as he will of course explain all matters connected with it to you, I will 

 say no more on the subject. He is likely to make more gold in India 

 than in England — and as that was one of the principal, if I remember 

 rightly, of your desires for him, I am glad there is a prospect of its 

 fulfilment. " Your's, my dear brother, as ever, 



" To Harold Bearfoot, Esq., " B. M. B." 



" Bearfoot Hall." 



" Bows too much," repeated Harold Bearfoot, of Bearfoot Hall, ten 

 times at the very least, and with every intonation of voice that it is 

 possible to imagine. " How the devil can that be — these courtiers 

 grow more incomprehensible than ever. India ! I should like him to 

 return governor-general at the very least — if it were only to spite his 



