As Middleton made a motion to retire, he put
out his hand with an air of authority to restrain him.
"Stay," said he. "Now that you are here, the mischief is done, and you
cannot repair it by hastening away. You have interrupted me in my mood
of thought, and must pay the penalty by suggesting other thoughts. I am
a lonely man here, having spent most of my life abroad, and am separated
from my neighbors by various circumstances. You seem to be an
intelligent man. I should like to ask you a few questions about your
country."
He looked at Middleton as he spoke, and seemed to be considering in what
rank of life he should place him; his dress being such as suited a humble
rank. He seemed not to have come to any very certain decision on this
point.
"I remember," said he, "you have no distinctions of rank in your country;
a convenient thing enough, in some respects. When there are no
gentlemen, all are gentlemen. So let it be. You speak of being
Englishmen; and it has often occurred to me that Englishmen have left
this country and been much missed and sought after, who might perhaps be
sought there successfully."
"It is certainly so, Mr. Eldredge," said Middleton, lifting his eyes to
his face as he spoke, and then turning them aside.
Pages:
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312