“I’m sorry for it,” rejoined my uncle; “for it bears a very bad stamp
for _value received_.”
“Dear Sir, I’m the most volatile fellow upon earth; my heart’s the
very mansion of peace and content, and I would not willingly injure
a worm; Providence has blest me with an eminent share of health, and
I dare say I shall never look grave till I’m in love.”
My uncle groaned! I had forgot myself, and by endeavouring to
exculpate my error, I had launched into a much greater, which nothing
but his groan would have brought to my recollection; and a profound
silence in consequence ensued, during which pause I had stedfastly
fixed my eyes on my uncle’s countenance, which displayed a complete
portrait of misanthropy: his long white eye-brows shaded his
downcast eye half an inch lower than usual; and his protending under
lip seemed quivering with some inarticulate sentence, while I sat
petrified at the visible agitation I had unintentionally caused; at
length starting from his reverie:--
“Love,” cried he, “Victor, my boy, is either the supreme source of
earthly bliss, or the severest calamity of heaven; to me, alas!
perhaps, you know, it has proved an unrooted thorn, rankling my
peace of mind, and almost subduing the principles of philanthropy I
once possessed; ’tis that has rendered me petulant, ’tis that has
tinctured the cup of life with bitterest gall. Perhaps, you never
heard the particulars, but some evening I’ll endeavour to relate them
as a lesson to you; till when, don’t again start the subject.”
While I was thanking him for his intended confidence, to which
I promised to pay strict attention, a loud ringing at the gate
announced the arrival of some visitor, which broke the thread of an
interesting subject, by Geoffry’s announcing Dr. Tonic.