Melincourt : $b or, Sir Oran Haut-TonPeacock, Thomas Love
General
Melincourt : $b or, Sir Oran Haut-Ton
Peacock, Thomas Love
English fiction -- 19th century; Orangutans -- Fiction; Satire
_Anthelia._ What you mean by hushing up, Lord Anophel, I know not: but
of this be assured, that under no circumstances will I ever be your
wife; and that whatever happens to me in any time or place, shall be
known to all who are interested in my welfare. I know too well the
difference between the true quality of a pure and simple mind and the
false affected modesty which goes by that name in the world, to be
intimidated by threats which can only be dictated by a supposition that
your wickedness would be my disgrace, and that false shame would induce
me to conceal what both truth and justice would command me to make
known.
[Illustration: _We shall leave them to run_ ad libitum.]
Lord Anophel stood aghast for a few minutes, at the declaration of such
unfashionable sentiments. At length saying, ‘Ay, preaching is one thing,
and practice another, as Grovelgrub can testify,’ he seized her hand
with violence, and threw his arm round her waist. Anthelia screamed, and
at that very moment a violent noise of ascending steps was heard on the
stairs; the door was burst open, and Sir Oran Haut-ton appeared in the
aperture, with the Reverend Mr. Grovelgrub in custody, whom he dragged
into the apartment, followed by Mr. Forester and Mr. Fax. Mr. Forester
flew to Anthelia, who threw herself into his arms, hid her face in his
bosom, and burst into tears: which when Sir Oran saw, his wrath grew
boundless, and quitting his hold of the Rev. Mr. Grovelgrub (who
immediately ran downstairs, and out of the castle, as fast as a pair of
short thick legs could carry him), seized on Lord Anophel Achthar, and
was preparing to administer natural justice by throwing him out at the
window; but Mr. Fax interposed, and calling Mr. Forester’s attention,
which was totally engaged with Anthelia, they succeeded in rescuing the
terrified sprig of nobility; who immediately, leaving the enemy in free
possession, flew downstairs after his reverend tutor; whom, on issuing
from the castle, he discovered at an immense distance on the sands,
still running with all his might. Lord Anophel gave him chase, and after
a long time came within hail of him, and shouted to him to stop. But
this only served to quicken the reverend gentleman’s speed; who, hearing
the voice of pursuit, and too much terrified to look back, concluded
that the dumb Baronet had found his voice, and was then in the very act
of gaining on his flight. Therefore, the more Lord Anophel shouted
‘Stop!’ the more nimbly the reverend gentleman sped along the sands,
running and roaring all the way, like Falstaff on Gadshill; his Lordship
still exerting all his powers of speed in the rear, and gaining on his
flying Mentor by very imperceptible gradations: where we shall leave
them to run _ad libitum_, while we account for the sudden appearance of
Mr. Forester and his friends.
[Illustration: ‘_He would confess all._’]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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