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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 301
twaddle, you may be sure it amuses them, and that they are happy
enough without us. Happy ? Is there any happiness like it, pray ?
Was it not rapture to watch the messenger, to seize the note, and
fee the bearer?—to retire out of sight of all prying eyes and read :
—"Dearest! mamma's cold is better this morning. The Joneses
came to tea, and Julia sang. I did not enjoy it, as my dear was at
his horrid dinner, where I hope he amused himself. Send me a
word by Buttles, who brings this, if only to say you are your Louisa's
own own," &c. &c. &c. That used to be the kind of thing. In
such coy lines artless Innocence used to whisper its little vows. So
she used to smile ; so she used to warble ; so she used to prattle.
Young people, at present engaged in the pretty sport, be assured
your middle-aged parents have played the game, and remember the
rules of it. Yes, under papa's bow-window of a waistcoat is a heart
which took very violent exercise when that waist was slim. Now
he sits tranquilly in his tent, and watches the lads going in for their
innings. Why, look at grandmamma in her spectacles reading that
sermon. In her old heart there is a corner as romantic still as
when she used to read the "Wild Irish Girl" or the "Scottish
Chiefs " in the days of her misshood. And as for your grandfather,
my dears, to see him now you would little suppose that that calm
polished dear old gentleman was once as wild—as wild as Orson.
. . . Under my windows, as I write, there passes an itinerant flower
merchant. He has his roses and geraniums on a cart drawn by a
quadruped—a little long-eared quadruped, which lifts up its voice
and sings after its manner. When I was young, donkeys used to
bray precisely in the same way ; and others will heehaw so when
we are silent and our ears hear no more.