Vanity Fair - Page 176/573

"Don't break her heart, Jos, you rascal," said another. "Don't trifle

with her affections, you Don Juan!"

"Get away," said Jos Sedley, quite pleased, and leering up at the

maid-servant in question with a most killing ogle. Jos was even more

splendid at Brighton than he had been at his sister's marriage. He had

brilliant under-waistcoats, any one of which would have set up a

moderate buck. He sported a military frock-coat, ornamented with frogs,

knobs, black buttons, and meandering embroidery. He had affected a

military appearance and habits of late; and he walked with his two

friends, who were of that profession, clinking his boot-spurs,

swaggering prodigiously, and shooting death-glances at all the servant

girls who were worthy to be slain.

"What shall we do, boys, till the ladies return?" the buck asked. The

ladies were out to Rottingdean in his carriage on a drive.

"Let's have a game at billiards," one of his friends said--the tall

one, with lacquered mustachios.

"No, dammy; no, Captain," Jos replied, rather alarmed. "No billiards

to-day, Crawley, my boy; yesterday was enough."

"You play very well," said Crawley, laughing. "Don't he, Osborne? How

well he made that-five stroke, eh?"

"Famous," Osborne said. "Jos is a devil of a fellow at billiards, and

at everything else, too. I wish there were any tiger-hunting about

here! we might go and kill a few before dinner. (There goes a fine

girl! what an ankle, eh, Jos?) Tell us that story about the tiger-hunt,

and the way you did for him in the jungle--it's a wonderful story that,

Crawley." Here George Osborne gave a yawn. "It's rather slow work,"

said he, "down here; what shall we do?"

"Shall we go and look at some horses that Snaffler's just brought from

Lewes fair?" Crawley said.

"Suppose we go and have some jellies at Dutton's," and the rogue Jos,

willing to kill two birds with one stone. "Devilish fine gal at

Dutton's."

"Suppose we go and see the Lightning come in, it's just about time?"

George said. This advice prevailing over the stables and the jelly,

they turned towards the coach-office to witness the Lightning's arrival.

As they passed, they met the carriage--Jos Sedley's open carriage, with

its magnificent armorial bearings--that splendid conveyance in which he

used to drive, about at Cheltonham, majestic and solitary, with his

arms folded, and his hat cocked; or, more happy, with ladies by his

side.

Two were in the carriage now: one a little person, with light hair, and

dressed in the height of the fashion; the other in a brown silk

pelisse, and a straw bonnet with pink ribbons, with a rosy, round,

happy face, that did you good to behold. She checked the carriage as

it neared the three gentlemen, after which exercise of authority she

looked rather nervous, and then began to blush most absurdly. "We have

had a delightful drive, George," she said, "and--and we're so glad to

come back; and, Joseph, don't let him be late."