Maurice's holidays
commenced on Monday the 19th, and Claude offered to go home on the
same day, and meet him, but in a general council it was determined to
the contrary. Claude was wanted to stay for a concert on Thursday,
and both Mr. Mohun and Eleanor thought Maurice, without Reginald,
would not be formidable for a few days.
At first he seemed to justify this opinion. He did not appear to
have any peculiar pursuit, unless such might be called a very earnest
attempt to make Phyllis desist from her favourite preface of 'I'll
tell you what,' and to reform her habit of saying, 'Please for,'
instead of 'If you please.' He walked with the sisters, carried
messages for Mr. Devereux, performed some neat little bits of
carpentry, and was very useful and agreeable.
On Wednesday afternoon Lord Rotherwood and Florence called, their
heads the more full of the 30th because the Marquis had not once
thought of it while Mr. Devereux was ill. Among the intended
diversions fireworks were mentioned, and from that moment rockets,
wheels, and serpents, commenced a wild career through Maurice's
brain. Through the whole evening he searched for books on what he
was pleased to call the art of pyrotechnics, studied them all
Wednesday, and the next morning announced his intention of making
some fireworks on a new plan.
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