The Exclusives (vol. 3 of 3)Bury, Charlotte Campbell, Lady
General
The Exclusives (vol. 3 of 3)
Bury, Charlotte Campbell, Lady
Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
"Yes," replied Lord Raynham. "I left her some time ago enjoying that
most enviable amusement, which only demands strength of wind and limb,
and spares all the wear and tear of brains that graver cares demand.
I wish it were the fashion for men of my age to make _girouettes_ and
_pirouettes_, and cut _entrès_. Grown gentlemen _are_ taught to dance,
and I have long had serious thoughts of learning _incog._"
"I hope you will let your intimate friends at least enjoy your first
_début_," cried Mr. Spencer Newcombe. "But, after all, you know,
Raynham, that _girouettes_ and _pirouettes_ belong equally to the dance
of life as to the dance of the ball-room; and we are none of us quite
ignorant of these, though some of us make them more gracefully than
others."
Lord Raynham had a way of not hearing when it did not suit him to hear;
and having no impromptu _fait à loisir_ ready at that moment, by way of
reply, he passed on, apparently insensible to the sting, which he was
much better skilled in knowing how to inflict than how to receive.
"I think," said Lord Glenmore, "that at all events Georgina must have
had enough of that enviable amusement, as Raynham calls it, by this
time; and that if we do not go in quest of her, we shall not be
together at supper." So saying, he sought her first among the dancers;
but passed on, inquiring, as he went, if any one had seen her. Some
replied one thing, some another; and many answered in a pointed manner,
which, however, was unobserved by him, for it was contrary to Lord
Glenmore's nature to entertain a doubt of those whom he once loved and
esteemed. Being wearied of seeking Lady Glenmore, and concluding she
had gone to the refreshment-room, he sat down by Lady Tenderden, whose
vanity was always gratified in every opportunity of keeping up the
remembrance of a past juvenile gossip in the eyes of the world.
In the meanwhile, Lady Glenmore, who had been overcome by the heat of
the ball-room, had been easily prevailed upon to seek the refreshing
coolness of the terraces; and having walked about some time, entered
the conservatory, and sat down for a moment to inhale the perfume of
the flowers and plants, and to enjoy the tranquillity it afforded
from the noise and bustle of the dancers. Here Mr. Leslie Winyard
beguiled the hour, and interested Lady Glenmore by reciting various
passages from various poets, analogous to the spirit of the place, and
then passing from these to the theme of such feelings as the lines
he quoted were calculated to inspire. He dwelt with eloquence on the
imperfection and little refinement of all attachments of the present
day, expatiated on that homage which ought to be paid to woman, and
which, as he spoke, he seemed to imply was willingly paid by himself to
her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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