Page:Romance & Reality 1.pdf/141

Rh Now, I am free to confess the very bacon has more feeling than I have: so dissipate your lakeism by telling yonder traveller I want to hear some of his adventures. What variety of talent," said Mrs. Sullivan, as he turned away, "does that young man possess! He has l'esprit comme un diable, and a sense of the beautiful comme un ange. I cannot characterise his poetry better than in his own words:

As the young traveller Mrs. Sullivan had summoned crossed the room, he was intercepted by a lady, whose very gracious smile on him was the essence of conciliation; it seemed, however, like English sunshine, too precious to be long enjoyed. Some other "gentle tassel " was to be lured with all the skill of complimentary falconry, and with one more smile, and a parting bend of necessity and regret, the traveller approached with the "self-betraying air" of the flattered. "My southern voyage," said he, after the first greetings with Mrs. Sullivan were over, "is enough for a season's reputation. Mrs. Harcourt has just been expressing her