Chapter 66

_AUSTIN, MENTEITH, returning_

AUSTIN. Was I ever like that, Menteith?

MENTEITH. No, Mr. George, you was always a gentleman.

AUSTIN. Youth, my good fellow, youth.

MENTEITH. Quite so, Mr. George.

AUSTIN. Well, Menteith, we cannot make nor mend. We cannot play the jockey with Time. Age is the test; of wine, Menteith, and men.

MENTEITH. Me and you and the old Hermitage, Mr. George, he-he!

AUSTIN. And the best of these, the Hermitage. But come: we lose our day. Help me off with this.

(_MENTEITH takes off AUSTIN'S dressing-gown; AUSTIN passes R. to dressing-table, and takes up first cravat._)

AUSTIN. Will the hair do, Menteith?

MENTEITH. Never saw it lay better, Mr. George. (_AUSTIN proceeds to wind first cravat. A bell: exit MENTEITH. AUSTIN drops first cravat in basket and takes second._)

AUSTIN (_winding and singing_)--

"I'd crowns resign To call her mine, Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill!"

(_Second cravat a failure. Re-enter MENTEITH with card._) Fenwick? of Allonby Shaw? A good family, Menteith, but I don't know the gentleman. (_Lays down card, and takes up third cravat._) Send him away with every consideration.

MENTEITH. To be sure, Mr. George. (_He goes out. Third cravat a success. Re-enter MENTEITH._) He says, Mr. George, that he has an errand from Miss Musgrave.

AUSTIN (_with waistcoat_). Show him in, Menteith, at once. (_Singing and fitting waistcoat at glass_)--

"I'd crowns resign To call her mine, Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill!"