Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-07-15
CHAPTER III.

From the day of our meeting Miss Lyall
began to fill great part of my thoughts. I
am man of taste, and admire grace and
beauty, simply from an artistic point of view,
but not in the least like some young men
who are continually wondering what sort of
impression they are making. I am old
enough not to expect woman to form
romantic attachment to me, although / see
no reasen why their society should not
amuse me. In fact, prefer it to that of
my own sex when they are young and inter-
esting principally, perhaps, because they
rarely contradict one rudely or interrupt
man when he is talking about himself.
1 don't think there is much in me to inter
romance would have difficulty in accepting
ME as lover. Fancy voting woman ad-
dressing me as "Henry, dear"-a man who
ought to have grown-up daughters of his
own, and who gets cut of breath if obliged
to run upstairs could not permit such
familiarity. protest that ifany girl did be-
come attached to me I should consider it my
duty to make more strenuous efforts to cure
her than Lancelot did in the case of Elaine.
No, no, there is no nonsense about me,
but only certain amount of dormant poe
try, and this had been awakened by Miss
Lyall.
The next day went up to London to the
club. Brown dropped in and declared with
emphasis that looked ten years younger
than when he last saw me.
This pleased me and asked him to lunch,
simply, confess, for the pleasure of talking
about Miss Lyall, for when am full of a
subject l must speak Of it weakness, l
know, but one I am too old to cure.
We had an excellent lunch, remember,
and particularly good Mayonnaise. I am
very fond ofMayonnaise it always seems to
fix lunch on my memory. Iwish it agreed
with me better!
l told Brown of my meeting with Miss
Lyall, and it seemed to amuse him, but
while was doing my best to describe her
eyes and features, he interrupted me rather
rudely, I thought, with an = unnecessary
laugh, exclaiming
"Why, Merton, my willy old bachelor, the
girl has made quite an impression on you.
Merton, the married man. All! ah! ahln
hate fippancy and regretted that had
asked him to lunch. 'Nonsense, Brown
said I, little irritably; ga man can surely
admire a pretty girl without causing absurd
jokes. Old fogies like you and me don't
expect girls to fall in love with them"
Brown is quite as old as am, but could
see he did not like to be bracketed with me
as harmless old bachelor, for am told he
is still invited to evening parties and dances
good deal after supper with girls who are
just out. After lunch it occurred to me that
since I had spoiled Miss Lyall's book it
would be polite to replace it. 1t was Shell
ley, I remembered. Ali young and ardent
souls read Shelley. used to myself at one
time, but do not appreciate him so much
now, having, perhaps, become more recon-
ciled to "things in general Accordingly
procured the edition by W. M. Rosetti, in
three volumes, and forwarded them to her
with little note, a literary effort which cost
the club several sheets of paper before 1 was
satisfied. Brown came up while I was
directing the envelope and asked me iron
ically if | had been writing poem.
''A poem, indeedp' exclaimed 1 testify.
Why
"Because you have such a seraphic smile
ou your venerable face" he answered, grin
ming.
It is generally wiser to hold ones tongue.
People do miscOnstrue so. This was the
commencement of my friendship with
Edith. She wrote me little note of thanks,
and hoped l would call at Fairlawn, which
l did on the first opportunity.
Mrs. Lyall was rather majestic lady,
who evidently contrived to have her own
way in the house. Edith was charming
She had way of talking of the weather,
which was most interesting and absorbing
Women with deep gray eyes and long lashes
have Her mother quite agreed with the
views l expressed on modern Radicalism-
it is always safe to pitch into Radicals when
you are talking to ladies, it sounds to re-
spectacle
eyes," she remarked with sigh, ''we
live in dangerous times"
'sWe do, indeed" echoed I.
81 suppose all progress does seem danger
GUS to people who don't want to move"
Edith remarked.
A liberal sentiment, for which her moth
er was reproving her when BERTHE appeared. |
Upon my thanking him with dignity for his
assistance, he remarked that he and Edith
had laughed like anything about it after
ward. School-boys are foolish creatures,
ready to giggle at anything, and unpleasant
ly frank when it is a question Of other peo-
pie. This visit was the first of many and
Edith, who seemed to grow more charming