Then his lordship spoke so violently and disrespectfully concerning boroughs and parliament, that the colonel, who was a very loyal man, was quite shocked. His lordship expressed also such wishes concerning these valuable articles, as none but the veriest radical would think of expressing in his sober senses. “I wish I could go for you,” replied the courteous colonel. “I wish you could,” answered his lordship; but both parties knew that such wish was vain, and so no more was said on that topic. The agitated lover then with restless and uneasy step paced up and down the apartment bewailing, in various established and authorized phrases used on such occasions, his very hard lot. The colonel listened most patiently to these lamentations, and ever and anon he besought his lordship to compose himself. But his lordship listened not to the consoling language of his friend Crop; and it is impossible to say how long this melancholy scene might have continued, had it not been for an interruption arising from the announcement of dinner. At this sound the colonel aroused himself, and with unusual energy of persuasion besought his lordship to suspend his grief a little while. His lordship was not quite so distressed by the dreadful calamity which had visited him in the shape of a letter from London, as to have lost all appetite for dinner, and he therefore yielded to the friendly persuasions of the gallant colonel, and the two friends were seated at the dinner table. Colonel Crop was not at any time much addicted to loquacity, but at dinner time he was as mute as a fish; and Lord Spoonbill was not quite so far lost to all consideration as to suffer himself to talk about his sorrows before the servants. But when the cloth was removed and the servants withdrawn, and the gentlemen left to their own talk, the refreshing effects of the dinner were felt by both parties; his lordship became more composed and the colonel more animated. Then the subject was copiously and amply discussed, and many schemes were proposed, to all of which in succession the colonel gave his assent. But this gallant officer was by no means very attentive to the various particulars suggested by the enamoured hereditary legislator. For as the colonel was always assentient to everything which might be said, thought, or done by any of his right honorable feeders, he was not attentive to statements, as if they required any consideration. After much had been said by Lord Spoonbill as to the most probable means of obtaining possession of the lovely one, and when his lordship’s ingenuity in devising seem to be exhausted, and when Colonel Crop seemed to think that it was necessary that he should say something, then did he in his usual abrupt style of eloquence say: “Perhaps, my lord, I had better bring the lady up to London with me?”