But the good-natured Crackthorpe, who had a pity for the young painter's
condition, helped him so far (and gained Clive's warmest thanks for his
good offices), by asking admission for Clive to entertain evening parties
of the beau-monde, where he had the gratification of meeting his charmer.
Ethel was surprised and pleased, and Lady Kew surprised and angry, at
meeting Clive Newcome at these fashionable houses; the girl herself was
touched very likely at his pertinacity in following her. As there was no
actual feud between them, she could not refuse now and again to dance
with her cousin; and thus he picked up such small crumbs of consolation
as a youth in his state can get; lived upon six words vouchsafed to him
in a quadrille, or brought home a glance of the eyes which she had
presented to him in a waltz, or the remembrance of a squeeze of the hand
on parting or meeting. How eager he was to get a card to this party or
that! how attentive to the givers of such entertainments! Some friends of
his accused him of being a tuft-hunter and flatterer of the aristocracy,
on account of his politeness to certain people; the truth was, he wanted
to go wherever Miss Ethel was; and the ball was blank to him which she
did not attend.
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