United States or Guinea ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
On the other side of Miss Mackenzie sat Miss Baker, and on the other side of Mrs Stumfold stood Mr Startup, talking aloud and administering the full tea-cups with a conscious grace. Mr Stumfold and Mr Frigidy were at the other table, and Mr Maguire was occupied in passing promiscuously from one to the other.
The consequence of this was that Mr Frigidy could not bring himself to love Mr Startup, could not enable himself to justify a veracious chronicler in saying that he was at peace with all the world, Startup included. The ladies were too many for Miss Mackenzie to notice them specially as she sat listening to Mr Maguire's impressive voice.
"Oh dear yes, very," said Miss Trotter. "I believe he's an excellent young man, but I always did think him forward, now you mention it. And sometimes I've wondered how dear Mrs Stumfold could like so much of it. But do you know, Mr Frigidy, I am not quite sure that somebody else does like it. You know who I mean."
His friends told him of Islington and St Bees, of Durham, Birkenhead, and other places where the thing could be done for him; but he hesitated, fearing whether he might be able to pass even the initiatory gates of Islington. He was a good young man, at peace with all the world except Mr Startup. With Mr Startup the veracious chronicler does not dare to assert that Mr Frigidy was at peace.
Mrs Blow always takes pound-cake, and I'll see that there's one near her. Mortimer," Mortimer was the footman, "is getting more bread and butter. Maguire, you have two dishes of sweet biscuits over there; give us one here. Never mind me, Mrs Stumfold; I'll have my innings presently." All this Mr Frigidy heard with envious ears as he sat with his own tea-cup before him at the other table.
Startup was not a clergyman because certain scruples impeded and prevented him, while in the bosom of Frigidy there existed no desire so strong as that of having the word reverend attached to his name. Startup, though he was younger than Frigidy, could talk to seven ladies at once with ease, but Frigidy could not talk to one without much assistance from that lady herself.
Mr Frigidy, the elder, intended at some time to go into the Church, but had not as yet made sufficient progress in his studies to justify him in hoping that he could pass a bishop's examination.
Miss Trotter said much more than this, and Mr Frigidy was comforted, and believed that he had been talking. When Mrs Stumfold commenced her conversation with Mr Startup, Miss Baker addressed herself to Miss Mackenzie; but there was at first something of stiffness in her manner, as became a lady whose call had not been returned. "I hope you like Littlebath," said Miss Baker.
Now Mr Startup was the other young man whom Miss Mackenzie saw in that room. Mr Startup was also a very good young man, but he was of a fiery calibre, whereas Frigidy was naturally mild. Startup was already an open-air preacher, whereas Frigidy lacked nerve to speak a word above his breath.
Word Of The Day