Pelham — CompleteLytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
History
Pelham — Complete
Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
Adventure stories; English fiction -- 19th century; Great Britain -- History -- 19th century -- Fiction
“Lord Dawton having kindly promised to call upon you, personally, with
this note, I cannot resist the opportunity that promise affords me, of
saying how desirous I am that you should cultivate his acquaintance. He
is, you know, among the most prominent leaders of the Opposition; and
should the Whigs, by any possible chance, ever come into power, he would
have a great chance of becoming prime minister. I trust, however, that
you will not adopt that side of the question. The Whigs are a horrid
set of people (politically speaking), vote for the Roman Catholics, and
never get into place; they give very good dinners, however, and till you
have decided upon your politics, you may as well make the most of them.
I hope, by the by, that you see a great deal of Lord Vincent: every one
speaks highly of his talents; and only two weeks ago, he said, publicly,
that he thought you the most promising young man, and the most naturally
clever person, he had ever met. I hope that you will be attentive
to your parliamentary duties; and, oh, Henry, be sure that you see
Cartwright, the dentist, as soon as possible.
“I intend hastening to London three weeks earlier than I had intended,
in order to be useful to you. I have written already to dear Lady
Roseville, begging her to introduce you at Lady C.’s, and Lady--; the
only places worth going to at present. They tell me there is a horrid,
vulgar, ignorant book come out, about--. As you ought to be well versed
in modern literature, I hope you will read it, and give me your opinion.
Adieu, my dear Henry, ever your affectionate mother,
“Frances Pelham.”
I was still at my solitary dinner, when the following note was brought
me from Lady Roseville:--
“Dear Mr. Pelham,
“Lady Frances wishes Lady C--to be made acquainted with you; this is her
night, and I therefore enclose you a card. As I dine at--House, I shall
have an opportunity of making your eloge before your arrival. Your’s
sincerely,
“C. Roseville.”
I wonder, thought I, as I made my toilet, whether or not Lady Roseville
is enamoured with her new correspondent? I went very early, and before I
retired, my vanity was undeceived. Lady Roseville was playing at ecarte,
when I entered. She beckoned to me to approach. I did. Her antagonist
was Mr. Bedford, a natural son of the Duke of Shrewsbury, and one of the
best natured and best looking dandies about town: there was, of course,
a great crowd round the table. Lady Roseville played incomparably; bets
were high in her favour. Suddenly her countenance changed--her hand
trembled--her presence of mind forsook her. She lost the game. I looked
up and saw just opposite to her, but apparently quite careless and
unmoved, Reginald Glanville. We had only time to exchange nods, for Lady
Roseville rose from the table, took my arm, and walked to the other end
of the room, in order to introduce me to my hostess.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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