ABSTRACT
In three weeks from the time of his arrival, Captain Clifford was the most admired man in Bath. It is true, that gentlemen who have a quicker tact as to the respectability of their own sex than women, might have looked a little shy upon him, had he not himself especially shunned appearing intrusive, and indeed rather avoided the society of men than courted it; so that after he had fought a duel with a Baronet, (the son of a shoe-maker,) who called him one Clifford, and had exhibited a flea-bitten horse, allowed to be the finest in Bath, he rose insensibly into a certain degree of respect with the one sex as well as popularity with the other. But what always attracted and kept alive suspicion, was his intimacy with so peculiar and dashing a looking gentleman as Mr. Edward Pepper. People could get over a certain frankness in Clifford’s address, but the most lenient were astounded by the swagger of Long Ned. Clifford, however, not insensible to the ridicule attached to his acquaintances, soon managed to pursue his occupations alone; nay, he took a lodging to himself, and left Long Ned and Augustus Tomlinson (the latter to operate as a check on the former) to the quiet enjoyment of the hairdresser’s apartments. He himself attended all public gaieties, and his mien, and the appearance of wealth which he maintained, procured him access into several private circles, which pretended to be exclusive. As if English people who had daughters ever could be exclusive! Many were the kind looks, nor few the inviting letters which he received. And if his sole object had been to marry an heiress, he would have found no difficulty in attaining it. But he devoted himself entirely to Lucy Brandon; and to win one glance from her, he would have renounced all the heiresses in the kingdom. Most fortunately for him, Mauleverer, whose health was easily deranged, had fallen ill the very day William Brandon left Bath; and his Lordship was thus rendered unable to watch the movements of Lucy, and undermine, or totally prevent the success of her lover. Miss Brandon, indeed, had at first, melted by the kindness of her uncle, and struck with the sense of his admonition, (for she was no self-willed young lady, who was determined to be in love,) received Captain 182Clifford’s advances with a coldness which, from her manner the first evening they had met at Bath, occasioned him no less surprise than mortification. He retreated, and recoiled on the Squire, who, patient, and bored as usual, was sequestered in his favourite corner. By accident, Clifford trod on the Squire’s gouty digital, and in apologizing for the offence, was so struck by the old gentleman’s good-nature and peculiarity of expressing himself that without knowing who he was, he entered into conversation with him. There was an off-hand sort of liveliness and candour, not to say wit, about Clifford, which always had a charm for the elderly; who generally like frankness above all the cardinal virtues; the Squire was exceedingly pleased with him. The acquaintance once begun, was naturally continued without difficulty when Clifford ascertained who was his new friend; and next morning, meeting in the Pump-room, the Squire asked Clifford to dinner. The entré to the house thus gained, the rest was easy. Long before Mauleverer recovered his health, the mischief effected by his rival was almost beyond redress; and the heart of the pure, the simple, the affectionate Lucy Brandon, was more than half lost to the lawless and vagrant Cavalier 192 who officiates as the Hero of this tale.
