Under this sort of management, the haughty
girl winced and fretted, and finally sulked, grew taciturn and
sarcastic, and shut herself up altogether within the precincts of
Belmont.
CHAPTER XXXII.
NARRATING HOW LIEUTENANT PUDDOCK AND CAPTAIN DEVEREUX BREWED A BOWL OF
PUNCH, AND HOW THEY SANG AND DISCOURSED TOGETHER.
If people would only be content with that which is, let well alone, and
allow to-day to resemble yesterday and to-morrow to day, the human race
would be much fatter at no greater cost, and sleep remarkably well. But
so it is that the soul of man can no more rest here than the sea or the
wind. We are always plotting against our own repose, and as no man can
stir in a crowd without disturbing others, it happens that even the
quietest fellows are forced to fight for their _status quo_, and
sometimes, though they would not move a finger or sacrifice a button for
the chance of 'getting on,' are sulkily compelled to cut capers like the
rest. Nature will have it so, and has no end of resources, and will not
suffer even the sluggish to sit still, but if nothing else will do, pins
a cracker to their skirts, in the shape of a tender passion, or some
other whim, and so sets them bouncing in their own obese and clumsy way,
to the trouble of others as well as their own discomfort.
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