emper with which nature had gifted her; a temper which she
tied up sometimes and kept from barking and biting; but which when
unmuzzled was an animal of whom all her ladyship's family had a just
apprehension. Not one of them but in his or her time had been wounded,
lacerated, tumbled over, otherwise frightened or injured by this unruly
brute. The cowards brought it sops and patted it; the prudent gave it a
clear berth, and walked round so as not to meet it; but woe be to those
of the family who had to bring the meal, and prepare the litter, and (to
speak respectfully) share the kennel with Lady Kew's "Black Dog!" Surely
a fine furious temper, if accompanied with a certain magnanimity and
bravery which often go together with it, is one of the most precious and
fortunate gifts with which a gentleman or lady can be endowed. A person
always ready to fight is certain of the greatest consideration amongst
his or her family circle. The lazy grow tired of contending with him;
the timid coax and flatter him; and as almost every one is timid or
lazy, a bad-tempered man is sure to have his own way. It is he who
commands, and all the others obey. If he is a gourmand, he has' what he
likes for dinner; and the tastes of all the rest are subservient to him.
She (we playfully transfer the gender, as a bad temper is of both sexes)
has the place which she likes best in the drawing-room; nor do her
parents, nor her brothers and sisters, venture to take her favourite
chair. If she wants to go to a party, mamma will dress herself in spite
of her headache; and papa, who hates those dreadful soirees, will go
upstairs after dinner and put on his poor old white neckcloth, though
he has been toiling at chambers all day, and must be there early in the
morning--he will go out with her, we say, and stay for the cotillon. If
the family are taking their tour in the summer, it is she who ordains
whither they shall go, and when they shall stop. If he comes home late,
the dinner is kept for him, and not one dares to say a word though ever
so hungry. If he is in a good humour, how every one frisks about and is
happy! How the servants jump up at his bell and run to wait upon him!
How they sit up patiently, and how eagerly they rush out to fetch cabs
in the rain! Whereas for you and me, who have the tempers of angels, and
never were known to be angry or to complain, nobody cares whether we are
pleased or not. Our wives go to the milliners and send us the bill