Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1821 edition. Excerpt: ... 215 CHAPTER IX. ADVICE. THE next morning Mr. Hervey called on Dr. X, and begged that he would accompany him to lady Delacour's. "To be introduced to your tragic muse?" said the doctor. *' Yes," said Hervey, " I must have your opinion of her before I devote myself." "My opinion ! but of whom ?--Of lady Delacour?" w No; but of a young lady whom you will see with her." "Is she handsome r" "Beautiful!" u And young ? * "And young." "And graceful?" "The most graceful person you ever beheld." "Young, beautiful, graceful; then the deuce take me," said Dr. X, "if I give you my opinion of her: for the odds are, that she has a thousand faults, at least, to balance these perfections." "A thousand faults! a charitable allowance," said Clarence, smiling. "There now," said Dr. X 'Touch him, and no minister's so sore.' . * To punish you for wincing at my first setting out, I promise you, that if the lady have a million of faults, each of them high as huge Olympus, I will see them as with the eye of a flatterer--not of a friend." "I defy you to be so good, or so bad as your word, doctor," said Hervey.-- "You have too much wit to make a good flatterer." "And perhaps you think too much to make a good friend," said Dr. X--., "Not so," said Clarence, "I would at any time rather be cut by a sharp knife than by a blunt one. But, my dear doctor, I hope you will not he prejudiced against Belinda, merely because she is with lady Delacour; for to my certain knowledge, she is not under her ladyship's influence. She judges and acts for herself, of which I have had an instance." "Very possibly!" interrupted Dr. X, " but before we go any farther, will you please to tell me of what Belinda you are talking?" "Belinda Portman. I forgot that I had not told..."