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A SHABBY GENTEEL STORY 43
had injured him severely, and cast about for means to revenge
himself upon them.
This point is, to be sure, a very delicate one to treat—for in
words, at least, the age has grown to be wonderfully moral, and
refuses to hear discourses upon such subjects. But human nature,
as far as I am able to learn, has not much changed since the time
when Richardson wrote and Hogarth painted a century ago. There
are wicked Lovelaces abroad, ladies, now as then, when it was
considered no shame to expose the rogues ; and pardon us, therefore,
for hinting that such there be. Elegant acts of rouerie, such as
that meditated by Mr. Brandon, are often performed still by dashing
young men of the world, who think no sin of an amourette, but
glory in it, especially if the victim be a person of mean condition.
Had Brandon succeeded (such is the high moral state of our British
youth), all his friends would have pronounced him, and he would
have considered himself, to be a very lucky captivating dog ; nor,
as I believe, would he have had a single pang of conscience for the
rascally action which he had committed. This supreme act of
scoundrelism has man permitted to himself—to deceive women.
When we consider how he has availed himself of the privilege so
created by him, indeed one may sympathise with the advocates of
woman's rights who point out this monstrous wrong. We have
read of that wretched woman of old whom the pious Pharisees were
for stoning incontinently ; but we don't hear that they made any
outcry against the man who was concerned in the crime. Where
was he ? Happy, no doubt, and easy in mind, and regaling some
choice friends over a bottle with the history of his success.
Being thus injured then, Mr. Brandon longed for revenge.
How should he repay these impertinent young women for slighting
his addresses ? "Pardi," said he ; "just to punish their pride and
insolence, I have a great mind to make love to their sister."
He did not, however, for some time condescend to perform this
threat. Eagles such as Brandon do not sail down from the clouds
in order to pounce upon small flies, and soar airwards again, contented
with such an ignoble booty, In a word, he never gave a
minute's thought to Miss Caroline, until further circumstances
occurred which caused this great man to consider her as an object
somewhat worthy of his remark.
The violent affection suddenly exhibited by Mr, Fitch, the
painter, towards poor little Caroline was the point which determined
Brandon to begin to act.
" MY DEAR VISCOUNT " (wrote he to the same Lord Cinqbars
whom he formerly addressed)—" Give me joy ; for in a week's time