Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 162: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

OF A FRENCH GENTLEMAN, 135 CHAPTER XIX. MR. CLAYTON AND THE COOK When once a subject of dispute arises in a fzmily, and is no; immediately settled by a firm decision, scarcely a day passes with- out witnessing a reference to the unpleasant topic. Mrs. Clayton was perpetually endeavouring to persuade her brother-in-law to forbear mentioning the name of De Rosann in the presence of his niece; and he as invariably forgot, or wilfully transgressed, her in- juncticns. The object of all his comparisons, when he wished to cite an instance of a noble disposition, or an honourable-minded young man, was De Rogann: he never returned from his watk, but he was sure to have seen a person who strongly reminded him of De Rosann: the best dinner he ever had eaten in France, was at the Rocher de Cancale with De Rosann: he seldom failed to notice, at supper-time, that he wished he had soine of the Madeira he was accustomed to drink when he passed the evening at De Rosann’s house ; and as soon as his eye caught sight of the Constitutionnel and the Journal des Debats* on the breaktast-table of a morning, he deplored the absence of De Rosann to discuss with him the pro- ceedings of the ministers of the good King Charles the Tenth. ‘¢ T wonder you can be so obstinate, William,” said Mrs. Clayton one day, when Eloise had left the room for a moment to retire to her bed-chamber, where she could sit and ponder on De Rosann without restraint, ‘‘as to persist in perpetually recalling to the memory of your niece a name which she ought to forget as soon as possible.” ‘¢ And do you think, my dear sister,” returned Mr. Clayton, ‘‘ that the heart ot Eloise is made of iron—that she can cease to remember one whom she tenderly loves, and on whose image she dotes more than ever—that she possesses superhuman powers over her passions—and that her chaste affection for a deserving young man can be eradicated as easily as the recollection of an every-day occurrence ?” ‘¢ Time works extraordinary changes,” said Mrs. Clayton. ‘‘ But there are feelings which no time can deaden—nothing less than the grave can overcome!” exclaimed Mr. Clayton solemnly. ‘¢ Not in so young a heart,’’ persisted the deluded mother. ‘‘ You may perhaps discover your error when it is too late, madam,” cried the irritated brother-in-law ; ‘at all events, I shall have performed my duty towards a niece whom I love, and a friend whom I deem worthy of a connexion with us.” ‘¢ Nothing on earth shall induce me to give my consent to so ineligible a match,” said Mrs. Clayton, angry in her turn, ‘* save on one condition,—and as that is an impossibility, or, at all events, a great improbability, my daughter stands but a small chance of becoming De Rosann’s bride.” _—_—_—— ee * The two leading French daily papers. CORNICE OOOKS (SO)