Mary did not come home with us from Westminster the morning after the
joustings, as we had expected, but followed some four or five days
later, and Brandon had fairly settled himself at court before her
arrival. As neither his duties nor mine were onerous, we had a great
deal of time on our hands, which we employed walking and riding, or
sitting in our common room reading and talking. Of course, as with
most young men, that very attractive branch of natural history, woman,
was a favorite topic, and we accordingly discussed it a great deal;
that is, to tell the exact truth, _I_ did. Although Brandon had seen
many an adventure during his life on the continent, which would not do
to write down here, he was as little of a boaster as any man I ever
met, and, while I am in the truth-telling business, I was as great a
braggart of my inches as ever drew the long-bow--in that line, I mean.
Gods! I flush up hot, even now, when I think of it. So I talked a
great deal and found myself infinitely pleased with Brandon's
conversational powers, which were rare; being no less than the
capacity for saying nothing, and listening politely to an infinite
deal of the same thing, in another form, from me.
Pages:
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46