The Weird of the Wentworths: A Tale of George IV's Time, Vol. 1Scotus, Johannes
History
The Weird of the Wentworths: A Tale of George IV's Time, Vol. 1
Scotus, Johannes
Conduct of life -- Fiction; Great Britain -- History -- George IV, 1820-1830 -- Fiction
A roar of laughter greeted Johnny as he asked pardon; and he now
perceived, for the first time, the immense proportions of the Marquis,
who was an Irishman, and a perfect giant in height and size.
Edinburgh was quickly reached; and, after a few commissions at the
gunmaker's and saddler's had been executed, they lunched at a pump,
which was the Captain's favourite resort, where he was as good as his
word, and pumped his protege well. They then turned their backs on the
Castle once more, and were proceeding down Princes Street towards home
at a furious rate when, to the Captain's horror, who thus knew his fate,
one of the wheels was seen running merrily in front. Ere he could frame
the awful oath that hung on his lips, down came the whole concern with a
loud crash! The trap was turned completely over, sending its occupants
flying in different ways.
The Captain was shot against a stout gentleman, who, though he broke the
intruder's fall, was not a little shaken by it. Arranmore was hurled in
the front of a young ladies' school walking quietly along, where he
occasioned great confusion among the girls, who fancied, in their
terror, as they gazed on his colossal limbs, a Titan had fallen from the
sky. Johnny was shot right before the leaders of a coach which went off
ere he could hardly roll himself on one side. Beyond a few bruises no
one was materially hurt.
A scene followed such as Johnny had never before witnessed. The Captain
was shaking hands with the old gentleman he had spilt, and swearing
great guns, intermingled with roars of laughter at the old man's
expense, who could by no means treat the affair as "such a joke," as the
Captain called it. Arranmore was in great wrath, and swore loudly too,
fancying he had been made a fool of, and anathematizing the inquisitive
crowd gathered thickly round.
Meantime the spirited horses had broken their traces and run off; they
were, however, caught before the High School, and led back in triumph. A
new linchpin, the loss of which had caused the accident, was readily
procured, the machine, as the Scotch say, "righted;" and, shaking the
dust off their clothes, the trio soon mounted on high again. Lashing his
whip amongst the throng, the young Jehu once more assumed the reins, and
drove off at the same dangerous rate as if nothing had happened.
As they neared Johnny's home, the Captain informed him, to his extreme
terror, that he had better drop off as he passed, as _he_ was late and
couldn't stop for him. Frightened as he was at the proposal, which the
Captain made with the coolest indifference, fancying Johnny could do
what his brother's tigers were accustomed to execute with such
nimbleness, he could not summon courage to tell him he was afraid, so he
sat still, trembling, and hoping a miracle would relieve him from his
situation. However, no miracle came, and Johnny was still there after
they had passed Seaview a hundred yards.
"You little fool! why didn't you drop?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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