The repast was refined, exquisite, various. It was one of those meetings
where all eat. When a few persons, easy and unconstrained, unencumbered
with cares, and of dispositions addicted to enjoyment, get together at
past midnight, it is extraordinary what an appetite they evince. Singers
also are proverbially prone to gourmandise; and though the Bird of
Paradise unfortunately possessed the smallest mouth in all Singingland,
it is astonishing how she pecked! But they talked as well as feasted,
and were really gay.
'Prince,' said the Duke, 'I hope Madame de Harestein approves of your
trip to England?'
The Prince only smiled, for he was of a silent disposition, and
therefore wonderfully well suited his travelling companion.
'Poor Madame de Harestein!' exclaimed Count Frill. 'What despair she was
in, when you left Vienna, my dear Duke. I did what I could to amuse her.
I used to take my guitar, and sing to her morning and night, but without
effect. She certainly would have died of a broken heart, if it had not
been for the dancing-dogs.'
'Did they bite her?' asked a lady who affected the wit of Lord Squib,
'and so inoculate her with gaiety.
Pages:
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357