Be it said,
however, that his own studs, pin and ring, were real.
The French maid had eclipsed herself in Netta's toilet, and Owen felt
that if she were not his sister, he must have fallen in love with her
himself. The black roguish eyes sparkled like the brilliants she wore,
and the complexion was scarcely rivalled by the roses she had in her
bouquet.
Howel looked really proud of her, and it is not surprising that he felt
greatly elevated as he took the reins from the coachman and drove off in
his fine new carriage, drawn by capital horses, and attended by liveried
servants.
His last whisper to Netta, before they entered Mr Rice Rice's
drawing-room was, 'Keep up your consequence, and don't say, "Yes,
indeed!" every minute.'
He was determined to keep up his own consequence, and began at once by
patronising everybody present. There were some of the county gentry who
had demurred as to calling on the old miser's son, and who were
astonished at the kind of tone he assumed. They, who had been gravely
considering whether they could possibly shake hands with him, found
themselves on a level with, if not beneath him, at once, by mere
effrontery. There is some truth in the saying that, 'Accordingly as you
think of yourself, others will think of you;' and impudence and riches
combined, together with a certain amount of talent and personal
appearance, can overcome vast worldly obstacles.
Pages:
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408