He had become, especially
during the last two or three years, silent and reserved; he
rarely entered society; even the company of those who were
once his intimates had ceased to attract him; he was really a
melancholy man. The change in his demeanour was observed by
all; his mother and his sister-in-law were the only persons
who endeavoured to penetrate its cause, and sighed over the
failure of their sagacity. Quit the world and the world
forgets you; and Egremont would have soon been a name no
longer mentioned in those brilliant saloons which he once
adorned, had not occasionally a sensation, produced by an
effective speech in the House of Commons, recalled his name to
his old associates, who then remembered the pleasant hours
passed in his society and wondered why he never went anywhere
now.
"I suppose he finds society a bore," said Lord Eugene de Vere;
"I am sure I do; but then what is a fellow to do? I am not in
Parliament like Egremont. I believe, after all, that's the
thing; for I have tried everything else and everything else is
a bore."
"I think one should marry like Alfred Mountchesney," said Lord
Milford.
"But what is the use of marrying if you do not marry a rich
woman--and the heiresses of the present age will not marry.
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