Jerningham (Volume 1); A Story (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1854. Excerpt: ... of the Peer met his in a glance of peculiar meaning. "He is recruiting on the continent, I believe," replied Greville; "they say his purse and constitution are equally dilapidated." "Poor Sacheverell " reiterated her ladyship; "and he was such a good rider, too." "Yes," said Greville, " like the Erl King, he rode through everything; but he might have survived that, had not another misfortune clenched him. 'Sorrows come not single spies, ' you know. Just as he was clearing himself from the Charybdis of the turf, he fell into the Scylla of the Prince of 's parties; and the last feathers were soon plucked from his wings." "You knew him, did you not, Mr. Jerningham?" asked Lady Malton. "I have met him," replied the host; "but it was generally out with the hounds. By the way, ' he continued, as if desirous of changing the conversation, " shall you ride to-morrow?' The ruse was successful; her ladyship immediately flew off upon her favourite topics, leaving both Lord Haverdale and Mr. Jerningham somewhat overshadowed in their mirth. The latter gentleman soon after gave the well known signal; and his wife, rising with the rest of the ladies, moved away to the drawingroom. In spite, however, of the diversion thus created, by which Mr. Jerningham and his guest escaped a subject that seemed distasteful, the effect of its introduction was visible in the graver tone which the conversation unconsciously assumed. Greville, who saw that some discordant string had been touched, strove in vain to fathom the cause. He recollected a vague report which had whispered that Haverdale was supposed to belong to the "set" who had ruined the young nobleman named Sacheverell; but no such stigma could possibly attach to Mr. Jerningham, and yet the same uneasy disrelish of the subject ...