James's." "We shall scarcely be discovered,"
said Lady Mary, "among the stars that surround the regal planet."--"We
shall be much mortified then," said Lord Henry, facetiously.--"You are
very provoking, D'Almaine. I know your turf speculations have proved
fortunate of late: I witnessed Sir Charles paying you a large sum
the other morning; and I have good reason for thinking you have
been successful at the club, for I have not heard your usual morning
salutation to your valet, who generally on the occasion of your losses
receives more checks than are payable at your bankers. You shall advance
me a portion of your winnings, in return for which I promise you good
health, good society, and, perhaps, if the stars _shoot ~290~~rightly_,
a good place for our second son. In these days of peace, the distaff can
effect more than the field-marshal's baton."--"Always provided," said
my sire (clapping his hand upon his _os frontis_), "that nothing else
_shoots out_ of such condescensions."
"But why has Brighton the preference as a watering place?" said Lord
Henry: "the Isle of Wight is, in my opinion, more retired;
Southampton more select; Tunbridge Wells more rural; and Worthing more
social."--"True, D'Almaine; but I am not yet so old and woe-begone, so
out of conceit with myself, or misanthropic with the world, to choose
either the retired, the select, the rural, or the social.
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