The Project Gutenberg EBook of Roland Cashel, by Charles James Lever

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Title: Roland Cashel
Volume II (of II)

Author: Charles James Lever

Illustrator: Phiz.

Release Date: August 19, 2010 [EBook #33469]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROLAND CASHEL ***

Produced by David Widger

ROLAND CASHEL

By Charles James Lever

With Illustrations By Phiz.

In Two Volumes. Vol. II.

ROLAND CASHEL.

CHAPTER I. AN "UNLIMITED" MONARCHY

And at last they find out, to their greatest surprise,
That't is easier far to be "merry than wise."

Bell: Images.

"Here is Mr. Cashel; here he is!" exclaimed a number of voices, as
Roland, with a heart full of indignant anger, ascended the terrace upon
which the great drawing-room opened, and at every window of which stood
groups of his gay company. Cashel looked up, and beheld the crowd of
pleased faces wreathed into smiles of gracious welcome, and then he
suddenly remembered that it was _he_ who had invited all that brilliant
assemblage; that, for _him_, all those winning graces were assumed;
and that _his_ gloomy thoughts, and gloomier looks, were but a sorry
reception to offer them.

With a bold effort, then, to shake off the load that oppressed him,
he approached one of the windows, where Mrs. Kennyfeck and her two
daughters were standing, with a considerable sprinkling of young
dragoons around them.

"We are not to let you in, Mr. Cashel," said Mrs. Kennyfeck, from
within. "There has been a vote of the House against your admission."

"Not, surely, to condemn me unheard," said Roland; "I might even say,
unaccused."

"How so?" cried Mrs. Kennyfeck. "Is not your present position your
accusation? Why are you there, while we are here?"

"I went out for a walk, and lost myself in the woods."

"What does he say, my dear?" said Aunt Fanny, fearful of losing a word
of the dialogue.

"That he lost himself, madam," said one of the dragoons, dryly.

"So, indeed, we heard, sir," said the maiden lady, piteously; "but I may
say I foresaw it all."

"You are an old fool, and, worse still, every one sees it," whispered