CHAPTER 1 -- With a Word on “ wonder when in ’re going to do anything , ? ” said .
“ , ” answered , laying down egg-spoon , “ why in should do anything ?
position is a comfortable one .
have an income nearly sufficient for wants ( ’s income is ever quite sufficient , know ) , enjoy an enviable social position : am , and .
Behold , it is enough ! ”
“ are nine-and-twenty , ” observed , “ and ’ve done nothing but -- ” “ Knock about ?
It is true .
does n’t need to do things . ”
This remark of mine rather annoyed , for knows ( and therefore there can be no harm in referring to the fact ) that , pretty and accomplished as is , is hardly of the same standing as .
Besides attractions , possessed a large fortune , and was wise enough not to mind about ancestry .
Ancestry is , in fact , a matter concerning which the next observation of ’s has some truth .
“ are generally worse than any others , ” said .
Upon this stroked hair : knew quite well what meant .
“ ’m so glad ’s is black ! ” cried .
At this moment ( who rises at seven and works before breakfast ) came in .
glanced at : cheek was slightly flushed ; patted it caressingly .
“ What ’s the matter , dear ? ” asked .
“ objects to doing nothing and having red hair , ” said , in an injured tone .
“ Oh !
of course ca n’t help hair , ” admitted .
“ It generally crops out once in a generation , ” said .
“ So does the nose .
has got them both . ”
“ wish they did n’t crop out , ” said , still flushed .
“ rather like them , ” said , and , rising , bowed to the portrait of .
uttered an exclamation of impatience .
“ wish ’d take that picture away , , ” said .
“ ! ” cried .
“ Good heavens ! ”
added .
“ Then it might be forgotten , ” continued .
“ Hardly -- with about , ” said , shaking head .
“ Why should it be forgotten ? ”
asked .
“ ! ” exclaimed , blushing very prettily .
laughed , and went on with egg .
At least had shelved the question of what ( if anything ) ought to do .
And , by way of closing the discussion -- and also , must admit , of exasperating a trifle more -- observed : “ rather like being . ”
When read a story , skip the explanations ; yet the moment begin to write one , find that must have an explanation .
For it is manifest that must explain why was vexed with nose and hair , and why ventured to call .
For eminent as , must protest , have been for many generations , yet participation in blood of course does not , at first sight , justify the boast of a connection with the grander stock of or a claim to be one of .
For what relationship is there between and , between or and ?
Well then -- and must premise that am going , perforce , to rake up the very scandal which wishes forgotten -- in the year 1733 , .
sitting then on the throne , peace reigning for the moment , and and being not yet at loggerheads , there came on a visit to .
was -- in fact , the nose and the hair which have stamped time out of mind .
stayed some months in ; yet , in the end , left rather under a cloud .
For fought a duel ( it was considered highly well bred of to waive all question of rank ) with , well known in the society of the day , not only for own merits , but as .
In that duel received a severe wound , and , recovering therefrom , was adroitly smuggled off by .
was not wounded in the duel ; but the morning being raw and damp on the occasion of the meeting , contracted a severe chill , and , failing to throw it off , died some six months after the departure of , without having found leisure to adjust relations with .
was , whose picture wished to remove from ; and was , and , both in the peerage of , and .
As for , went back to , married , and ascended the throne , whereon have sat from then till this very hour -- with one short interval .
And , finally , if walk through the picture galleries at , among the fifty portraits or so of the last century and a half , will find five or six , including that of , distinguished by long , sharp , straight noses and a quantity of dark-red hair ; these five or six have also blue eyes , whereas among dark eyes are the commoner .
That is the explanation , and am glad to have finished it : the blemishes on honourable lineage are a delicate subject , and certainly this heredity hear so much about is the finest scandalmonger in ; it laughs at discretion , and writes strange entries between the lines of the “ Peerages ” .
It will be observed that , with a want of logic that must have been peculiar to ( since are no longer allowed to lay it to the charge of sex ) , treated complexion almost as an offence for which was responsible , hastening to assume from that external sign inward qualities of which protest entire innocence ; and this unjust inference sought to buttress by pointing to the uselessness of the life had led .
Well , be that as it may , had picked up a good deal of pleasure and a good deal of knowledge .
had been to and , and spoke German as readily and perfectly as English ; was thoroughly at home in French ; had a smattering of Italian and enough Spanish to swear by .
was , believe , and .
could ride anything that had a back to sit on ; and head was as cool a one as could find , for all its flaming cover .
If say that ought to have spent time in useful labour , am out of and have nothing to say , save that had no business to leave two thousand pounds a year and a roving disposition .
“ The difference between and , ” said , who often ( bless ! )
speaks on a platform , and oftener still as if were on one , “ is that recognizes the duties of position , and see the opportunities of yours . ”
“ To , , ” answered , “ opportunities are duties . ”
“ Nonsense ! ” said , tossing head ; and after a moment went on : “ Now , here ’s . ”
“ A thousand thanks ! ”
murmured .
“ ’s to have in six months , and says is sure that ’ll take as .
Do take it , -- to please . ”
Now , when puts the matter in that way , wrinkling pretty brows , twisting little hands , and growing wistful in the eyes , all on account of , am visited with compunction .
Moreover , thought it possible that could pass the time in the position suggested with some tolerable amusement .
Therefore said : “ , if in six months ’ time no unforeseen obstacle has arisen , and invites , hang if do n’t go with ! ”
“ Oh , , how good of !
am glad ! ”
“ Where ’s going to ? ”
“ does n’t know yet ; but ’s sure to be . ”
“ , ” said , “ for sake ’ll go , if it ’s no more than a beggarly Legation .
When do a thing , do n’t do it by halves . ”
promise , then , was given ; but six months are six months , and seem an eternity , and , inasmuch as they stretched between and prospective industry ( suppose are industrious ; but know not , for never became ) , cast about for some desirable mode of spending them .
And it occurred to suddenly that would visit .
It may seem strange that had never visited yet ; but ( in spite of a sneaking fondness for , which led to give , , the famous Elphberg name of Rudolf ) had always been averse from going , and , since death , , had accepted tradition which taught that a wide berth was to be given to .
But the moment had come into head was eaten up with a curiosity to see .
After all , red hair and long noses are not confined to , and the old story seemed a preposterously insufficient reason for debarring from acquaintance with , one which had played no small part in European history , and might do the like again under the sway of .
determination was clinched by reading in _ The Times _ that was to be crowned at in the course of the next three weeks , and that great magnificence was to mark the occasion .
At once made up mind to be present , and began preparations .
But , inasmuch as it has never been practice to furnish with an itinerary of journeys and in this case anticipated opposition to wishes , gave out that was going for a ramble in -- -- and propitiated ’s wrath by declaring that intended to study the political and social problems of .