One person was faithful to poor Jack through
all his blunders and follies and extravagance and misfortunes, and that
was the pretty young girl of Chanticlere, round whose young affections
his luxuriant whiskers had curled. And the world may cry out at Lord Kew
for sending his brougham to the Queen's Bench prison, and giving a great
feast at Grignon's to Jack on the day of his liberation, but I for one
will not quarrel with his lordship. He and many other sinners had a jolly
night. They said Kew made a fine speech, in hearing and acknowledging
which Jack Belsize wept copiously. Barnes Newcome was in a rage at Jack's
manumission, and sincerely hoped Mr. Commissioner would give him a couple
of years longer; and cursed and swore with a great liberality on hearing
of his liberty.
That this poor prodigal should marry Clara Pulleyn, and by way of a dowry
lay his schedule at her feet, was out of the question. His noble father,
Lord Highgate, was furious against him; his eldest brother would not see
him; he had given up all hopes of winning his darling prize long ago, and
one day there came to him a great packet bearing the seal of Chanticlere,
containing a wretched little letter signed C.
Pages:
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690