I would (am I not right, Mr. Percival?) infinitely rather be a slave of the ring than a slave of the lamp.”
Here the conversation ended; Clarence took his leave, and Mrs. Margaret Delacour said, the moment he had left the room, “Quite a different sort of young man from what I had expected to see!”
Advice
The next morning Mr. Hervey called on Dr. X——, and begged that he would accompany him to Lady Delacour’s.
“To be introduced to your tragic muse?” said the doctor.
“Yes,” said Mr. Hervey: “I must have your opinion of her before I devote myself.”
“My opinion! but of whom?—Of Lady Delacour?”
“No; but of a young lady whom you will see with her.”
“Is she handsome?”
“Beautiful!”
“And young?”
“And young.”
“And graceful?”
“The most graceful person you ever beheld.”
“Young, beautiful, graceful; then the deuce take me,” said Dr. X——, “if I give you my opinion of her: for the odds are, that she has a thousand faults, at least, to balance these perfections.”
“A thousand faults! a charitable allowance,” said Clarence, smiling.
“There now,” said Dr. X——
‘Touch him, and no minister’s so sore.’
To punish you for wincing at my first setting out, I promise you, that if the lady have a million of faults, each of them high as huge Olympus, I will see them as with the eye of a flatterer—not of a friend.”
“I defy you to be so good or so bad as your word, doctor,” said Hervey. “You have too much wit to make a good flatterer.”
“And perhaps you think too much to make a good friend,” said Dr. X——.
“Not so,” said Clarence: “I would at any time rather be cut by a sharp knife than by a blunt one. But, my dear doctor, I hope you will not be prejudiced against Belinda, merely because she is with Lady Delacour; for to my certain knowledge, she in not under her ladyship’s influence. She judges and acts for herself, of which I have had an instance.”
“Very possibly!” interrupted Dr. X——. “But before we go any farther, will you please to tell me of what Belinda you are talking?”
“Belinda Portman. I forgot that I had not told you.”
“Miss Portman, a niece of Mrs. Stanhope’s?”
“Yes, but do not be prejudiced against her on that account,” said Clarence, eagerly, “though I was at first myself.”
“Then you will excuse my following your example instead of your precepts.”
“No,” said Clarence, “for my precepts are far better than my example.”
Lady Delacour received Dr. X—— most courteously, and thanked Mr. Hervey for introducing to her a gentleman with whom she had long desired to converse. Dr. X—— had a great literary reputation, and she saw that he was a perfectly well-bred man; consequently she was ambitious of winning his admiration. She perceived also that he had considerable influence with Clarence Hervey, and this was a sufficient reason to make her wish for his good opinion. Belinda was particularly pleased with his manners and conversation; she saw that he paid her much attention, and she was desirous that he should think favourably of her; but she had the good sense and good taste to avoid a display of her abilities and accomplishments. A sensible man, who has any knowledge of the world and talents for conversation, can easily draw out the knowledge of those with whom he converses. Dr. X—— possessed this power in a superior degree?
“Well,” cried Clarence, when their visit was over, “what is your opinion of Lady Delacour?”
“I am ‘blasted with excess of light,’” said the doctor.
“Her ladyship is certainly very brilliant,” said Clarence, “but I hope that Miss Portman did not overpower you.”
“No—I turned my eyes from Lady Delacour upon Miss Portman, as a painter turns his eyes upon mild green, to rest them, when they have been dazzled by glaring colours.
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