"Paul Clifford", Chapter 21, by Edward Bulwer-Lytton

1 year ago
2

Dream. Let me but see her, dear Leontins.
Humorous Lieutenant.

Hempskirke. It was the fellow, sure.
Wolfort. What are you, sirrah?
Beggar's Bush.

----

Such drama! Much cliff-hanger!

cicerone: an old term for a guide who conducts visitors and sightseers to museums, galleries, etc., and explains matters of archaeological, antiquarian, historic or artistic interest. But seriously, has any native English speaker ever uttered this word? Or is it only a word that 19th century authors put into their stories in a vain hope it would catch on more broadly?

congé: an unceremonious dismissal or rejection of someone

The picture used is "Tyntesfield House" by xlibber, used here under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en)

Tyntesfield is a Victorian Gothic Revival house and estate near Wraxall, North Somerset, England. So it's in Somerset, but west of Bath instead of north. Still, I feel like it does a good job of capturing what the estate might have looked like where this party takes place. Obviously not done up for a party in this picture, but still the grounds feel right to me. You'll just have to imagine for yourself the tents and pavilions overtop of it.

To follow along: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/7735/7735-h/7735-h.htm#link2HCH0021

Loading comments...