This wound me up a peg higher.
Lovel. Some questions, as they may be put, imply commands, Colonel. I would be glad to know how I am to take yours? And what is to be the end of your interrogatories?
Col. My questions are not meant by me as commands, Mr. Lovelace. The end is, to prevail upon a gentleman to act like a gentleman, and a man of honour.
Lovel. Briskly. And by what arguments, Sir, do you propose to prevail upon me?
Col. By what arguments, Sir, prevail upon a gentleman to act like a gentleman!—I am surprised at that question from Mr. Lovelace.
Lovel. Why so, Sir?
Col. Why so, Sir! Angrily.—Let me—
Lovel. Interrupting. I don’t choose, Colonel, to be repeated upon, in that accent.
Lord M. Come, come, gentlemen, I beg of you to be willing to understand one another. You young gentlemen are so warm—
Col. Not I, my Lord—I am neither very young, nor unduly warm. Your nephew, my Lord, can make me be everything he would have me to be.
Lovel. And that shall be, whatever you please to be, Colonel.
Col. Fiercely. The choice be yours, Mr. Lovelace. Friend or foe! as you do or are willing to do justice to one of the finest women in the world.
Lord M. I guessed, from both your characters, what would be the case when you met. Let me interpose, gentlemen, and beg you but to understand one another. You both shoot at one mark; and, if you are patient, will both hit it. Let me beg of you, Colonel, to give no challenges—
Col. Challenges, my Lord!—They are things I ever was readier to accept than to offer. But does your Lordship think that a man, so nearly related as I have the honour to be to the most accomplished woman on earth—
Lord M. Interrupting. We all allow the excellencies of the lady—and we shall all take it as the greatest honour to be allied to her that can be conferred upon us.
Col. So you ought, my Lord!—
A perfect Chamont; thought I.351
Lord M. So we ought, Colonel! and so we ought!—and pray let everyone do as he ought!—and no more than he ought; and you, Colonel, let me tell you, will not be so hasty.
Lovel. Coolly. Come, come, Col. Morden, don’t let this dispute, whatever you intend to make of it, go farther than with you and me. You deliver yourself in very high terms. Higher than ever I was talked to in my life. But here, beneath this roof, ’twould be inexcusable for me to take that notice of it which, perhaps, it would become me to take elsewhere.
Col. That is spoken as I wish the man to speak whom I should be pleased to call my friend, if all his actions were of a piece; and as I would have the man speak whom I would think it worth my while to call my foe. I love a man of spirit, as I love my soul. But, Mr. Lovelace, as my Lord thinks we aim at one mark, let me say, that were we permitted to be alone for six minutes, I dare say, we should soon understand one another perfectly well.—And he moved to the door.
Lovel. I am entirely of your opinion, Sir; and will attend you.
My Lord rung, and stepped between us: Colonel, return, I beseech you return, said he: for he had stepped out of the room while my Lord held me—Nephew, you shall not go out.
The bell and my Lord’s raised voice brought in Mowbray, and Clements, my Lord’s gentleman; the former in his careless way, with his hands behind him, What’s the matter, Bobby? What’s the matter, my Lord?
Only, only, only, stammered the agitated peer, these young gentlemen are, are, are—are young gentlemen, that’s all.—Pray, Colonel Morden, (who again entered the room with a sedater aspect), let this cause have a fair trial, I beseech you.
Col. With all my heart, my Lord.
Mowbray whispered me, What is the cause, Bobby?—Shall I take the gentleman to task for thee, my boy?
Not for the world, whispered I. The Colonel is a gentleman, and I desire you’ll not say one word.
Well, well, well, Bobby, I have done. I can turn thee loose to the best man upon God’s earth; that’s all, Bobby; strutting off to the other end of the room.
Col. I am sorry, my Lord, I should give your Lordship the least uneasiness. I came not with such a design.
Lord M. Indeed, Colonel, I thought you did, by your taking fire so quickly. I am glad to hear you say you did not. How soon a little spark kindles into a flame
; especially when it meets with such combustible spirits!
Col. If I had had the least thought of proceeding to extremities, I am sure Mr. Lovelace would have given me the honour of a meeting where I should have been less an intruder: but I came with an amicable intention; to reconcile differences rather than to widen them.
Lovel. Well then, Colonel Morden, let us enter upon the subject in your own way. I don’t know the man I should sooner choose to be upon terms with than one whom Miss Clarissa Harlowe so much respects. But I cannot bear to be treated, either in word or accent, in a menacing way.
Lord M. Well, well, well, well, gentlemen, this is somewhat like. Angry men make to themselves beds of nettles
, and, when they lie down in them, are uneasy with everybody. But I hope you are friends. Let me hear you say you are. I am persuaded, Colonel, that
