Page:Vivian Grey, Volume 1.djvu/20

 portion of his infant income in the purchase of Macassar oil, and began to cultivate his curls. Mrs. Grey could not entertain for a moment, the idea of her son's associating with children, the eldest of whom, (to adopt his own account,) was not above eight years old; so Flummery's, it was determined, he should leave. But where to go? Mr. Grey wished Eton, but his lady was one of those women, whom nothing in the world can persuade that a public school is any thing else but a place where boys are roasted alive; and so with tears, and taunts, and supplications, the point of private education was conceded. As for Vivian himself, he was for Eton, and Winchester, and Harrow, and Westminster, all at once; the only point that he made was, "not Rugby, it was so devilish blackguard."

At length it was resolved that the only hope, should remain at home a season, until some plan should be devised for the cultivation of his promising understanding. During this year,