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44 A SHABBY GENTEEL STORY
it is my intention to be violently in love,—and love is no small
amusement in a watering-place in winter.
" I told you about the fair Juliana Gann and her family. I
forgot whether I mentioned how the Juliana had two fair daughters,
the Rosalind and the Isabella ; and another, Caroline by name, not
so good-looking as her half-sisters, but, nevertheless, a pleasing
young person.
" Well, when I came hither, I had nothing to do but to fall
in love with the two handsomest ; and did so, taking many walks
with them, talking much nonsense; passing long dismal evenings
over horrid tea with them and their mamma : laying regular siege,
in fact, to these Margate beauties, who, according to the common
rule in such cases, could not, I thought, last long.
" Miserable deception ! disgusting aristocratic blindness !" (Mr.
Brandon always assumed that his own high birth and eminent
position were granted.) " Would you believe it, that I, who have
seen, fought, and conquered in so many places, should have been
ignominiously defeated here ? Just as American Jackson defeated
our Peninsular veterans, I, an old Continental conqueror too, have
been overcome by this ignoble enemy. These women have entrenched
themselves so firmly in their vulgarity, that I have been
beaten back several times with disgrace, being quite unable to make
an impression. The monsters, too, keep up a dreadful fire from
behind their entrenchments; and besides have raised the whole
country against me : in a word, all the snobs of their acquaintance
are in arms. There is Bob Smith, the linendraper ; Harry Jones,
who keeps the fancy tea-shop; young Glauber, the apothecary;
and sundry other persons, who are ready to eat me when they
see me in the streets; and are all at the beck of the victorious
Amazons.
"How is a gentleman to make head against such a canaille
as this ?—a regular jacquerie. Once or twice I have thought of
retreating ; but a retreat, for sundry reasons I have, is inconvenient.
I can't go to London ; I am known at Dover ; I believe there is
a bill against me at Canterbury; at Chatham there are sundry
quartered regiments whose recognition I should be unwilling to risk.
I must stay here—and be hanged to the place—until my better
star shall rise.
" But I am determined that my stay shall be to some purpose ;
and so to show how persevering I am, I shall make one more trial
upon the third daughter,—yes, upon the third daughter, a family
Cinderella, who shall, I am determined, make her sisters crever
with envy. I merely mean fun, you know—not mischief,—for
Cinderella is but a little child : and, besides, I am the most harm-