the day, which it was intended to have been spent in amusements
out of doors, was passed in animated and amusing conversation over the
hospitable and convivial board, and a fresh zest was added to wit and
humour by the exhilarating influence of the rosy god.

CHAPTER XXXII

In London, blest with competence.
With temper, health, and common sense,
None need repine or murmur--nay,
All may be happy in their way.
E'en the lone dwelling of the poor
And suffering, are at least obscure;
And in obscurity--exempt
From poverty's worst scourge--contempt.
Unmark'd the poor man seeks his den.
Unheeded issues forth again;
Wherefore appears he, none inquires,
Nor why--nor whither he retires.
All that his pride would fain conceal,
All that shame blushes to reveal;
The petty shifts, the grovelling cares,
To which the sous of want are heirs;
Those evils, grievous to be borne,
Call forth--not sympathy, but scorn;
Here hidden--elude the searching eye
Of callous curiosity.

~~415~~~
The following morning was one of unusual bustle, activity, and anxiety,
the originally intended movements of the party being thus unexpectedly
interrupted. Dashall had arisen before his usual hour, and departed from
home before the appearance of Sparkle and Bob to breakfast: it was, of
course, supposed that the promised duel would have decided the fate of
one of the antagonists before they should see him again.

In this conjecture, however, they were pleasingly disappointed by his
arrival about half past eleven o'clock.

"Well," said Sparkle, "it is all over--who has fallen--which is the
man--how many shots--what distance--who was the other second--and where
is the wounded hero?"

"Nay," said Tom, "you are before-hand with me; I have none of the
intelligence you require.--I have been in search of Lord Bluster,
who left town this very morning, three hours before my arrival, for
Edinburgh; and consesequently, I suppose, either has no intimation of
Laconic's intention to seek, or if he has--is determined to be out of
the way of receiving a regular challenge; so that, in all probability,
it will end, like many other duels, in smoke."

~~416~~~ "Notwithstanding your friend's letter was so full of fire,"
observed Tallyho.

"But perhaps he became mor