Fugit Irrevocabile Tempus. 15 away, brings with it a sigh as sad as the memories of the past were sweet :— 'Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean, Still, to return to the present; there is no denying that it is a proud thing, let it be as uncomfortable as you please, to be hurried along on the shoulders of an admiring crowd, sharing the members of your body, to the best of your power, with the individuals below you. Few positions, probably, are more uneasy to the body; few, perhaps, more gratifying to the mind. Let us leave Rowley to sleep over his innings, and the University to dream of their victory: 'What studies please, what most delight And fill men's thoughts, they dream them o'er at night.' 16 'Guild. CHAPTER III. O my lord, you are tardy; The very thought of this fair company Clapp'd wings to me. Cham. You are young, Sir Harry Guildford.'—Henry VIII. As my object in writing this book was to have it read—(in order that the public might have a clearer notion of the inner life of the University)-and as I am told by some that the subject by itself will be uninteresting to the general world, I intend, on the same principle as Lucretius says, 'pueris absinthia tætra medentes Cum dare conantur, prius oras pocula circum to provide a certain amount of fashionable sugar for the benefit of those to whom the University draught may prove distasteful. Accompany me therefore, all such, while Rowley dreams of his innings, into Lady Templeton's drawing-room, where Villars and others * Physicians when they purpose to give nanseous wormwood to children, first smear the rim round the bowl with the sweet yellow juice of honey.-Monro. of our acquaintance are disporting themselves among the fair. Lady Templeton's balls were always good. Independently of being a countess, she was a fashionable woman, what in the days of Almack's would have been called a person of ton, and the kind of person who is now called 'smart.' Smart people make smart balls, and therefore good balls; as good company is generally the chief element in a good ball. A ball may be a smart ball, and yet not a good one; but it can hardly be a good one without some little element of smartness. Rank does not necessarily constitute fashion in the gay world of London. Many a stately dowager who is worshipped at country balls, and has the whole county under command, is nothing but a bore in London, perhaps hardly known to many who don't go much into general society. There are certain people-some of higher, some of lower rank-whose presence ball-givers are anxious to secure, and who are only to be met at the best houses, and these are the smart people. It is observable, too, that the people most sought after are those who can afford to be select; who have no daughters to take them to every ball they are asked to, and who never therefore become common. As the generality of London society is conducted on the 'give-and-take' principle, daughters necessitate very often a promiscuous acquaintance, for they must go to a certain number of balls, and really good balls are comparatively rare. A duchess may generally command the best company, being, as one may say, ex officio, at the top of the fashionable tree. But an ordinary duchess is not at all unfrequently less sought after than others of lower rank, who are better known in the world of fashion. Somebody has said that duchesses and marchionesses are as necessary at a ball as soup and fish at dinner, and that the rest are like entrées-you may change them. Smart people are equally necessary to a good ball; more so, in fact, than the common-place duchess or marchioness. However, Lady Templeton had both the advantages of rank and fashion, and therefore the best people were always to be met at her house. Charlie had gone there rather early, after dining out, and was standing at the top of the stairs talking to Egerton. 'You young men should be dancing,' said Lady Templeton, coming up to them in the interval of receiving her guests. I can soon find a partner for you, Mr. Villars, if you come with me.' Charlie obeyed with becoming alacrity, and was introduced to a grim, but dignified, old dowager, who introduced him to her daughter-Lady Florence he couldn't catch the name. A quadrille was in course of formation, and Charlie having found a vis-à-vis, conducted his partner a rather tall, insipid-looking young lady-to her place. There was an embarrassing pause for a moment The Quadrille. or two after they were settled. of any remark to begin with. 19 Neither could think At last a happy thought struck Charlie. Were you at Lord's to-day, Lady Florence?' 'No' (with a washed-out look of inquiry as to why she should have been). Don't you care for cricket?' 'Oh, no!' 'You don't take any interest in the University match, I suppose ?' 'No; was that played to-day?' (Lady F. was coming out.) 'Yes; haven't you a brother at either place?' 'No.' This subject was evidently a failure. 6 Have you been in London all the season?' 'Are you beginning to get tired of it?' 'I've only just arrived.' 'Really!' Interval for dancing. 'Do you go out a great deal?' 'Don't you care for the Opera ?' 'Oh! yes' (with a weak emphasis on the last word.) Another interval for dancing. Charlie began to think of the Frenchman, who, after exhausting his stock of questions, and getting no contribution from his partner, burst out at last with, De grâce, Mademoiselle, risquez quelque chose.' |