Chapter X.
“I would not have a slave to till my ground,
To carry me, to fan me while I sleep,
And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth
That sinews bought and sold have ever earn’d.”
Cowper.
From the reciprocation of the heart’s best affections, which had marked the short period of Samboe’s acquaintance with Frank, we may now follow the young stranger to the [[131]]inanity of an Anglo West Indian boudoir; in which were Mrs. Penryn, reclined on a chaise longue, a young lady spangling some delicate muslin, and Mr. Frederick Moreton standing at a distant part of the room. The footman having opened the door, pointed to Samboe to enter, and immediately closed it upon him, leaving the timid boy to the scrutinizing looks of Mrs. Penryn, the oblique attention of the young lady, and the supercilious glance of the boy, who was engaged in the humane employment of holding a live mouse by the tail, as high as his arm could reach; while a kitten, eagerly attending to its writhings, kept springing, instinctively, to catch it, and as often, from the violence of the exertion, fell back on the floor. Had it not been for the chill which pervaded his frame, in his way to this apartment, Samboe might have thought himself in the West Indies, both as to the temperature, and the luxurious ease displayed in the arrangement of it. An elegant Persian carpet, entirely covered it; sofas, ottomans, and couches, invited to indolence and repose; ornaments of [[132]]the richest and most expensive materials, vases, cabinets, &c. adorned it; and a number of tropical birds, of beauteous plumage, displayed their captive state in superb cages of various elegant forms; while shells of great magnitude and exquisite beauty were displayed in different parts of this superb room, with considerable judgment and taste; and a rich glow seemed communicated to every object, from the light passing the draperies of beautiful rose-coloured taffety curtains. Plants of the loveliest bloom and most exquisite odour, completed the fascinations of this luxurious apartment, tastefully arranged in beautiful baskets and vases, reflected by the superb mirrors, of which there were several on each side of the room.
Mrs. Penryn, half raising her pale and spiritless form from the sofa on which she was reclining, was the first to break the silence which followed Samboe’s introduction. “Come, Fred, do give Frolic the mouse, and look at this boy. He will serve to amuse you, I hope; for I think the dogs, the cats, the mice, and the flies, have had [[133]]enough of you. Come, did you ever behold such an uncouth creature as George has made him: why the boy looks as if he were in a wooden case. He must not appear about you, till he has something fit to put on.”
This feeling harangue did not divert the young gentleman from his amusement for some minutes, till at length, more it would seem from his own fatigue, than from any motive of compassion for the poor animals, he gave the cat its natural prey; and it retired swearing, as its murmur of triumph is styled, to enjoy the feast, under a sofa at the further part of the room. “Now, Lavinia,” said Mrs. Penryn, addressing the young lady, “give us your opinion, my dear; your taste is so good: what dress shall we have for Fred’s page? He will like whatever you decide upon, I dare say.”