Page:Vivian Grey, Volume 1.djvu/258

 "Yes, indeed—it is quite enough to make one sick—eh! Dr. Sly?"

The Doctor shook his head mournfully, remembering the haunch.

"They say Ernest Clay's in sad difficulties, Miss Gusset."

"Well, I always expected his dash would end in that. Those wild harum-scarum men are monstrous disagreeable.—I like a person of some reflection— eh! Dr. Sly?"

Before the doctor could bow his usual assent, there entered a pretty little page, very daintily attired in a fancy dress of green and silver. Twirling his richly chased dirk with one tiny white hand, and at the same time playing with a pet curl, which was most picturesquely flowing over his forehead, he advanced with ambling gait to Miss Gusset, and, in a mincing voice, and courtly phrase, summoned her to the imperial presence.

The lady's features immediately assumed