Civility may be all very well in its way, but I cannot say that I admire
that way of knocking a man down with a kid glove. It is a treacherous
mode of attack; and very much resembles the plan Mr Chucks, the
boatswain in _Peter Simple_, used to adopt when correcting the ship's
boys.
That gentleman would, if you recollect, courteously beckon an offender
to approach him, doffing his hat the while as if speaking to the
quarter-deck; and then, begging the trembling youngster's pardon for
detaining him, would proceed to inform him in the "politest and most
genteel manner in the world" that he was "the d---d son of a sea
cook,"--subsequently rattaning him furiously, amidst a plethora of
expletives before which the worst Billingsgate faded into
insignificance.
I may be singular in the fancy, but, do you know, I prefer civil words
to be accompanied with civil deeds, and contrariwise:--the "poison of
asps" does not go well with honied accents!
"Pray take a seat, Mr Lorton," said Mrs Clyde. "I was expecting you
to call; and waited in, on purpose not to miss seeing you. My daughter
has told me,"--she went on, taking the initiative, ere I had a chance to
speak--cutting the ground from under my feet, as it were, and rendering
my task each moment more arduous--"My daughter has told me that she and
you were talking some nonsense together last night, which it is best for
all parties, my dear Mr Lorton, should be at once forgotten! You'll
agree with me, I'm sure?"
And she looked at me with a steady gaze of determination and set purpose
in her eyes, before which I quailed.
"You will agree with me, I'm sure, Mr Lorton,"--she repeated again,
after a pause, as I was so bewildered by her flank attack that I could
not get out a word at first. I declare to you, I only sat looking at
her in hopeless dismay, powerless--idiotic, in fact!
"But I love Min, Mrs Clyde,"--I stammered--"and she has promised--"
"Dear me! This is quite delicious," laughed Mrs Clyde--a cold sneering
laugh, which made me shiver as if cold water were running down my
back--"quite a comedy, I do declare, Mr Lorton. I did not think you
were so good an actor. Love! Ha, ha, ha!" and she gave forth a merry
peal--to my intense enjoyment, you may be sure.
Oh, yes! I enjoyed it, without doubt:--it was dreadfully comical!
"It is no laughing matter to me, Mrs Clyde," I replied at last,
emboldened by her ridicule--"I love Min; and she has promised to marry
me, if you will only give your consent, which I have come to ask to-
day."