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162 THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIP
The Little Sister gave him advice, to be sure, both as to the
company he should keep and the occupation which was wholesome
for him. But when others of his acquaintance hinted that his
idleness would do him harm, she would not hear of their censure.
" Why should he work if he don't choose ?" she asked. " He has
no call to be scribbling and scrabbling. You wouldn't have him
sitting all day painting little dolls' heads on canvas, and working
like a slave. A pretty idea, indeed ! His uncle will get him an
appointment. That's the thing he should have. He should be
secretary to an ambassador abroad, and he will be ! " In fact Phil,
at this period, used to announce his wish to enter the diplomatic
service, and his hope that Lord Ringwood would further his views
in that respect. Meanwhile he was the King of Thornhaugh Street.
He might be as idle as he chose, and Mrs. Brandon had always a
smile for him. He might smoke a great deal too much, but she
worked dainty little cigar-cases for him. She hemmed his fine
cambric pocket-handkerchiefs, and embroidered his crest at the
corners. She worked him a waistcoat so splendid that he almost
blushed to wear it, gorgeous as he was in apparel at this period,
and sumptuous in chains, studs, and haberdashery. I fear Dr.
Firmin, sighing out his disappointed hopes in respect of his son,
has rather good cause for his dissatisfaction. But of these remonstrances
the Little Sister would not hear. " Idle, why not ? Why
should he work ? Boys will be boys. I daresay his grumbling
old pa was not better than Philip when he was young !" And this
she spoke with a heightened colour in her little face, and a defiant
toss of her head, of which I did not understand all the significance
then ; but attributed her eager partisanship to that admirable injustice
which belongs to all good women, and for which let us be
daily thankful. I know, dear ladies, you are angry at this statement.
But, even at the risk of displeasing you, we must tell the
truth. You would wish to represent yourselves as equitable,
logical, and strictly just. So, I daresay, Dr. Johnson would have
liked Mrs. Thrale to say to him, " Sir, your manners are graceful :
your person elegant, cleanly, and eminently pleasing ; your appetite
small (especially for tea), and your dancing equal to the Violetta's;"
which, you perceive, is merely ironical. Women equitable, logical,
and strictly just! Mercy upon us! If they were, population
would cease, the world would be a howling wilderness. Well, in
a word, this Little Sister petted and coaxed Philip Firmin in such
an absurd way that every one remarked it—those who had no friends,
no sweethearts, no mothers, no daughters, no wives, and those who
were petted, and coaxed, and spoiled at home themselves; as I
trust, dearly beloved, is your case.