in the
Ride, forms less inanimate seem condemned to active exercise; young
ladies doing penance in a canter; old beaux at hard labour in a
trot. Sometimes, by a more thoughtful brow, a still brisker pace, you
recognize a busy member of the Imperial Parliament, who, advised by
physicians to be as much on horseback as possible, snatches an hour or
so in the interval between the close of his Committee and the interest
of the Debate, and shirks the opening speech of a well-known bore. Among
such truant lawgivers (grief it is to say it) may be seen that once
model member, Sir Gregory Stollhead. Grim dyspepsia seizing on him at
last, "relaxation from his duties" becomes the adequate punishment for
all his sins. Solitary he rides, and communing with himself, yawns at
every second. Upon chairs beneficently located under the trees towards
the north side of the walk are interspersed small knots and coteries
in repose. There you might see the Ladies Prymme, still the Ladies
Prymme,--Janet and Wilhelmina; Janet has grown fat, Wilhelmina thin. But
thin or fat, they are no less Prymmes. They do not lack male attendants;
they are girls of high fashion, with whom young men think it a
distinction to be seen talking; of high principle, too, and high
pretensions (unhappily for themselves, they are co-heiresses), by whom
young men under the rank of earls need not fear to be artfully entrapped
into "honourable intentions." They coquet majestically, but they
never flirt; they exact devotion, but they do not ask in each victim a
sacrifice on the horns of the altar; they will never give their hands
where they do not give their hearts; and being ever afraid that they
are courted for their money, they will never give their hearts save to
wooers who have much more money than themselves. Many young men stop to
do passing homage to the Ladies Prymme: some linger to converse; safe
young men,--they are all younger sons. Farther on, Lady Frost and Mr.
Crampe, the wit, sit amicably side by side, pecking at each other with
sarcastic beaks; occasionally desisting, in order to fasten nip and
claw upon that common enemy, the passing friend! The Slowes, a numerous
family, but taciturn, sit by themselves; bowed to much, accosted rarely.

Note that man of good presence, somewhere about thirty, or a year or two
more, who, recognized by most of the loungers, seems not at home in the
lounge. He has passed by the various coteries just described, made his
obeisanc