Pembroke waking first, suddenly jumped on the floor, and shaking his
disordered clothes, exclaimed, "Shafto! get up This is abominable! I
cannot help thinking that if we spend one half of our days in
pleasure and the other in lolling off its fatigues, we shall have
passed through life more to our shame than our profit!"
"Then you take the shame and leave me the profit," cried his
companion, turning himself round: "so good-night to you!"
Pembroke rang the bell. A servant entered.
"What o'clock is it?"
"Nine, sir."
"Who are above?"
"My lady, sir, and a large party of ladies."
"There, now!" cried Shafto, yawning and kicking out his legs. "You
surely won't go to be bored with such maudlin company?"
"I choose to join your mother," replied Pembroke. "Are there any
gentlemen, Stephen?"
"One sir: Doctor Denton."
"Off with you!" roared Shafto; "what do you stand jabbering there
for? You won't let me sleep. Can't you send away the fellow, and go
look yourself?"
"I will, if you can persuade yourself to rise off that sofa and come
with me."
"May Lady Hecate catch me if I do! Get about your business, and leave
me to mine."
"You are incorrigible, Shafto," returned Pembroke, as he closed the
door.
He went up stairs to change his dress, and before he gained the
second flight, he resolved not to spend another whole day in the
company of such an ignorant, unmannerly cub.
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