THE GREEN DWARF. Шарлотта Бронте
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“you speak like one of the foolish people” replied Giff solemnly “but still I glean a handful of comfort from your last words. at some future period you will give serious attention to the grand purpose for which we were all brought into the world?”
“May be aye & may be nay but whether I do or not my cherub there, Stingo, seems as if he would have no objection to turn both antiquarian & lawyer already.”
“Ha! what is it that same sweet boy whom I saw yesterday at your house whose young features express a promising solemnity far beyond his tender years?”
“the same and a sour squalling ill-tempered brat it is” “My dear friend,” said GifFord with great earnestness “take care that you do not check the unfolding of that hopeful flower, mind my words, he will be an honnour to his country & here give him these toys (taking a number of roundish stones from his pocket) & tell him I have no doubt they were used as marbles by the children of the ancient Britons, doubtless he will know how to value them accordingly.”
“to be sure he will, but my dear friend, the next time you make Stingo a present let it be some slight treatise on the law. he is continually hunting in my library for books of that nature & complains that he can scarcely find one of the sort he wants.”
“The angel! “ exclaimed Gifford in ecstasy “the moment I get home I will send him a compleat edition of my compendium of the laws, he shall not long pine in the agonies of inanition.”
“You are very kind” said Bud “but now let us change the subject. I understand that Bravey is to occupy the president’s throne tomorrow. I wonder who will be the rewarder of the victors.”
“it is not often that I remember the idle chat which passes in my presence but I heard this morning that Lady Emily Charlesworth is to be honoured with that dignity.”
“Is she? that’s well! they could not possibly have made a better choice - why her beauty alone will give eclat to the whole routine of tomorrows proceedings^ now tell me honestly Giff do you not think Lady Emily the most beautiful of earthly creaturesf?”
“She’s well enough favoured” replied Gifford “that is her garments ever become her person but for her mind I fear it is a waste, uncultivated field which where it is not wholly barren presents a rank crop of the weeds of frivolity”
“Prejudiced old prig!” said I angrily “ would you have a spiritual essence of Divinity like that to wither her roses by studying rotten scrolls & bending over grub-devoured law-books?”
“Not precisely so but I would have her to cultivate the faculties with which Nature hath endowed her by a diligent perusal of abridged treatises on the subjects you mention carefully digested by some able & judicious man. I myself when her uncle appointed me her tutor in the more solid & useful branches of a polite education composed a small work of ten quarto volumes on the antiquities of England, interspersed with explanatory notes & having an appendix of one thick volume quarto, if I could have got her to read this little work carefully & attentively through it might have given her some insight into the noble science of which I am an unworthy eulogist but while by a strange perversion of intellect she listened to openly & followed obediently the instructions of those trivial beings who taught her the empty accomplishments of music, dancing, drawing, modern languages, &c. &c., while she even gave some occasional odd moments to the formation of flowers & other cunning devices on the borders of silken or fine linen raiment I alone vainly attempted to lure her on in the honourable paths of Wisdom sometimes by honeyed words of enticement sometimes by thorny threats of correctionf. at one time she laughed at another wept & occasionally (to my shame be it spoken) bribed me by delusive blandishments to criminal acquiescence in her shameful neglect of all that is profitable to be understood by either man or womankind”
“Bravo Giff” said Bud laughing “I wish she had boxed your ears whenever you bothered her on such subjects! by the by have you heard that your fair quondam pupil is about to be married to Colonel Percy? “
“I have not but I do not doubt the rumour: that’s the way of all women. they think of nothing but being married while Learning is as dust in the balance.”
“Who & what is Colonel Percy?” said a voice close behind. Bud turned hastily round to see who the strange interragator might be. he started as his eyes met the apparition of a tall slender form dimly seen by the decaying embers which now shone fitfully on the hearth.
“friend” said he stirring up the fire to obtain a more perfect view of the stranger, “tell me first who & what you are who ask such abrupt questions about other people.”
“I” replied he “am a volunteer in the cause of good government & suppressor of rebels & ere long I hope to be able to call myself a brother in arms with you it being my intention shortly to enlist under the Duke’s standard”
as the unknown gave this explanation a bundle of brushwood which had been thrown on the half extinguished fire kindling to a bright blaze revealed his person more clearly than the darkning twilight had hitherto permitted it to be seen, he appeared to be full six feet high. his figure naturally formed on a model of the most perfect elegance derived aditional grace from the picturesque though rather singular costume in which he was attired consisting of a green vest & tunic reaching a little below the knee laced buskins, a large dark robe or mantle which hung over one shoulder in ample folds & was partially confined by the broad belt which encircled his waist & a green bonnet surmounted by a high plume of black feathers, a bow & quiver hung on his back, two knives whose hafts sparkled with jewellry were stuck in his girdle & a tall spear of glittering steel which he held in one hand served him for a kind of support as he stood, the martial majesty of this imposing stranger’s form & dress harmonized well with the manly though youthful beauty of his countenance whose finely chiselled features & full bright eyes shaded by clusters of short brown curls shone with an expression of mingled pride & frankness which awed the spectator while it won his unqualified admiration.”
“Upon my word friend” said I struck with the young soldier’s handsome exterior “if I were the Duke I should be well pleased with such a recruit as you promise to be. pray may I inquire of what country you are a native for both your garb & accent are somewhat foreign?”
“you forget” replied the stranger smiling “that you are my debtor for a reply : my first question remains yet unanswered”
“Ah true” said Bud “you asked me I think who Colonel Percy might be?»
“I did, & it would gratify me much to receive some information respecting him.”
“He is the nephew & apparent heir of the rich old Duke of Beaufortf”
“Indeed! how long has he paid his addresses to lady Emily Charlesworthf?”
“For nearly a year.”
“When are they to be married?”
“Shortly I believe”
“Is he handsome?”
“Yes nearly as much so as you & into the bargain his manners are those of an accomplished soldier & gentleman but in spite of all this he is a finished scoundrel, a haughty gambling drinking unconscionable blackguard”
“Why do you speak so warmly against him?”
“Because I know him well. I am his inferior officer & have daily opportunities of observing his vices.”
“Is lady Emily acquainted with his real character?”
“Perhaps not altogether but if she were I do not think she would love him less, ladies look more to external than internal qualifications in their husbands elect.”
“Do they often appear in public together?”
“I believe not, lady Emily confines herself very much to private life. she is said not to like display”
“Do you know anything of her disposition