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Harsh things he mitigates, and pride subdues. Ex. SOLON: Eleg.
YOU still are what you were, sir!
. . . . . .
. . . With most quick agility could turn
And return; make knots and undo them,
Give forked counsel.—Volpone, or the Fox.
BEFORE a large table, covered with parliamentary papers, sat Lumley LordVargrave. His complexion, though still healthy, had faded from thefreshness of hue which distinguished him in youth. His features, alwayssharp, had grown yet more angular: his brows seemed to project morebroodingly over his eyes, which, though of undiminished brightness, weresunk deep in their sockets, and had lost much of their quickrestlessness. The character of his mind had begun to stamp itself on thephysiognomy, especially on the mouth when in repose. It was, a facestriking for acute intelligence, for concentrated energy; but there was asomething written in it which said, "BEWARE!" It would have inspired anyone who had mixed much amongst men with a vague suspicion and distrust.
Lumley had been always careful, though plain, in dress; but there was nowa more evident attention bestowed on his person than he had evermanifested in youth,—while there was something of the Roman's celebratedfoppery in the skill with which his hair was arranged on his highforehead, so as either to conceal or relieve a partial baldness at thetemples. Perhaps, too, from the possession of high station, or the habitof living only amongst the great, there was a certain dignity insensiblydiffused over his whole person that was not noticeable in his earlieryears, when a certain ton de garnison was blended with his ease ofmanners. Yet, even now, dignity was not his prevalent characteristic;and in ordinary occasions, or mixed society, he still found a familiarfrankness a more useful species of simulation. At the time we now treatof, Lord Vargrave was leaning his cheek on one hand, while the otherrested idly on the papers methodically arranged before him. He appearedto have suspended his labours, and to be occupied in thought. It was, intruth, a critical period in the career of Lord Vargrave.
From the date of his accession to the peerage, the rise of Lumley Ferrershad been less rapid and progressive than he himself could have foreseen.At first, all was sunshine before him; he had contrived to make himselfuseful to his party; he had also made himself personally popular. To theease and cordiality of his happy address, he added the seemingly carelesscandour so often mistaken for honesty; while, as there was nothing showyor brilliant in his abilities or oratory—nothing that aspired far abovethe pretensions of others, and aroused envy by mortifying self-love—hecreated but little jealousy even amongst the rivals before whom heobtained precedence. For some time, therefore, he went smoothly on,continuing to rise in the estimation of his party, and commanding acertain respect from the neutral public, by acknowledged and eminenttalents in the details of business; for his quickness of penetration, anda logical habit of mind, enabled him to grapple with and generalize theminutiae of official labour or of legislative enactments with a masterlysuccess. But as the road became clearer