So the poetic bugling sounded the trump of his rejection.
He went up to Oxford; and for close upon three days was well-nigh disconsolate.
The lad’s admiration, most unwitting of it, did the girl a sad disservice.
The unspoken verdict of their modish brother, in preferring this girl’s society to theirs, roused the ill-will of his neglected sisters; and the two young women, whilst their full red lips kissed Betty good-morning as sweetly as was their wont, took to tittle-tattling against her.
The tittle-tattle bred further tittle-tattle, unloosed suggestive and insinuating tongues, and at last Dame Gossip bumped up, giggling, against the doors of The Cock and Bull in Fleet Street.
The tavern vomited its secret.
The ghost of Major Modeyne arose from the dead and walked; and was seen in Park Lane.