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212520_The_Adve ... _Way_Through_The_World.pdf - OUDL Home

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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 579<br />

too. In my second year I got the Latin declamation prize, I tell<br />

you ___________ "<br />

" Brandon always said you were one of the cleverest men at the<br />

college. He always said that, I remember," remarks the lady, very<br />

respectfully.<br />

"Did he ? He did say a good word for me then? Brummell<br />

Firmin wasn't a clever man ; he wasn't a reading man. Whereas I<br />

would back myself for a Sapphic ode against any man in my college<br />

—against any man ! Thank you. You do mix it so uncommon<br />

hot and well, there's no saying no ; indeed, there ain't ! Though I<br />

have had enough—upon my honour, I have."<br />

" Lor'! I thought you men could drink anything ! And Mr.<br />

Brandon—Mr. Firmin you said ___________ ?"<br />

" Well, I said Brummel Firmin was a swell somehow. He had<br />

a sort of grand manner with him ______________ "<br />

"Yes, he had," sighed Caroline. And I daresay her thoughts<br />

wandered back to a time long long ago, when this grand gentleman<br />

had captivated her.<br />

"And it was trying to keep up with him that ruined me!<br />

I quarrelled with my poor old governor about money, of course ;<br />

grew idle, and lost my fellowship. <strong>The</strong>n the bills came down<br />

upon me. I tell you, there arc some of my college ticks ain't<br />

paid now."<br />

" College ticks ? Law!" ejaculates the lady. " And __________ "<br />

" Tailors' ticks, tavern ticks, livery-stable ticks—for there were<br />

famous hacks in our days, and I used to hunt with the tip-top men.<br />

I wasn't bad across country, I wasn't. But we can't keep the pace<br />

with those rich fellows. We try, and they go ahead—they ride us<br />

down. Do you think, if I hadn't been very hard up, I would have<br />

done what I did to you, Caroline ? You poor little innocent suffering<br />

thing. It was a shame. It was a shame !"<br />

"Yes, a shame it was," cries Caroline. "And that I never<br />

gainsay. You did deal hard with a poor girl, both of you."<br />

" It was rascally. But Firmin was the worst. He had me in<br />

his power. It was he led me wrong. It was he drove me into<br />

debt, and then abroad, and then into qu— into gaol, perhaps : and<br />

then into this kind of thing." (" This kind of thing" has before<br />

been explained elegantly to signify a tumbler of hot grog.) " And<br />

my father wouldn't see me on his death-bed ; and my brothers and<br />

sisters broke with me ; and I owe it all to Brummell Firmin—all.<br />

Do you think, after ruining me, he oughtn't to pay me ?" and again<br />

he thumps a dusky hand upon the table. It made dingy marks on<br />

the poor Little Sister's spotless tablecloth. It rubbed its owner's<br />

forehead, and lank grizzling hair.

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