Platitude's chapel, and the minds of all
being filled with ultra notions of gentility.
The writer, hearing that his old friend had returned to England, to
apply, he believes, for an increase of salary, and for a title,
called upon him, unwillingly, it is true, for he had no wish to see
a person for whom, though he bore him no ill-will, he could not
avoid feeling a considerable portion of contempt; the truth is,
that his sole object in calling was to endeavour to get back a
piece of literary property which his friend had obtained from him
many years previously, and which, though he had frequently applied
for it, he never could get back. Well, the writer called; he did
not get his property, which, indeed, he had scarcely time to press
for, being almost instantly attacked by his good friend and his
wife--yes, it was then that the author was set upon by an old
Radical and his wife--the wife, who looked the very image of shame
and malignity, did not say much, it is true, but encouraged her
husband in all he said. Both of their own accord introduced the
subject of Lavengro. The Radical called the writer a grumbler,
just as if there had ever been a greater grumbler than himself
until, by the means above described, he had obtained a place: he
said that the book contained a melancholy view of human nature--
just as if anybody could look in his face without having a
melancholy view of human nature.
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