This eBook was produced by Tapio Riikonen
and David Widger
He who would know mankind must be at home with all men.
STEPHEN MONTAGUE.
We left Clarence safely deposited in his little lodgings. Whetherfrom the heat of his apartment or the restlessness a migration of bedsproduces in certain constitutions, his slumbers on the first night ofhis arrival were disturbed and brief. He rose early and descended tothe parlour; Mr. de Warens, the nobly appellatived foot-boy, waslaying the breakfast-cloth. From three painted shelves whichconstituted the library of "Copperas Bower," as its owners gracefullycalled their habitation, Clarence took down a book very prettilybound; it was "Poems by a Nobleman." No sooner had he read two pagesthan he did exactly what the reader would have done, and restored thevolume respectfully to its place. He then drew his chair towards thewindow, and wistfully eyed sundry ancient nursery maids, who wereleading their infant charges to the "fresh fields and pastures new" ofwhat is now the Regent's Park.
In about an hour Mrs. Copperas descended, and mutual compliments wereexchanged; to her succeeded Mr. Copperas, who was well scolded for hislaziness: and to them, Master Adolphus Copperas, who was alsochidingly termed a naughty darling for the same offence. Now thenMrs. Copperas prepared the tea, which she did in the approved methodadopted by all ladies to whom economy is dearer than renown, namely,the least possible quantity of the soi-disant Chinese plant was firstsprinkled by the least possible quantity of hot water; after thismixture had become as black and as bitter as it could possibly bewithout any adjunct from the apothecary's skill, it was suddenlydrenched with a copious diffusion, and as suddenly poured forth—weak,washy, and abominable,—into four cups, severally appertaining untothe four partakers of the matutinal nectar.
Then the conversation began to flow. Mrs. Copperas was a fine lady,and a sentimentalist,—very observant of the little niceties of phraseand manner. Mr. Copperas was a stock-jobber and a wit,—loved a goodhit in each capacity; was very round, very short, and very much like aJohn Dory; and saw in the features and mind of the little Copperas theexact representative of himself.
"Adolphus, my love," said Mrs. Copperas, "mind what I told you, andsit upright. Mr. Linden, will you allow me to cut you a leetle pieceof this roll?"
"Thank you," said Clarence, "I will trouble you rather for the wholeof it."
Conceive Mrs. Copperas's dismay! From that moment she saw herselfeaten out of house and home; besides, as she afterwards observed toher friend Miss Barbara York, the "vulgarity of such an amazingappetite!"
"Any commands in the city, Mr. Linden?" asked the husband; "a coachwill pass by our door in a few minutes,—must be on 'Change in half anhour. Come, my love, another cup of tea; make haste; I have scarcelya moment to take my fare for the inside, before coachee takes his forthe outside. Ha! ha! ha! Mr. Linden."
"Lord, Mr. Copperas," said his helpmate, "how can you be so silly?setting such an example to your son, too; never mind him, Adolphus, mylove; fie, child! a'n't you ashamed of yourself? never put the spoonin your cup till you have done tea: I must really send you to schoolto learn manners. We have a very pretty little collection of bookshere, Mr. Linden, if you would like to read an hour or two afterbreakfast,—child, take your hands out of your pockets,—all the bestEnglish classics I believe,—'Telemachus,' a