travel books: plaster from the surgeon's stores, and Hornblower now had a couple of legs of which no one need be ashamed. He could put his left leg forward to make his bow without any fear of wrinkles in his stockings, and sublimely conscious, as Bracegirdle said, of a leg of which any gentleman would be proud. At Government House the usual polished and languid aidede-camp took charge of Hornblower and led him forward. He made his bow to Sir Hew, a red-faced and fussy old gentleman, and to Lady Dalrymple, a red-faced and fussy old lady. `Mr Hornblower,' said the latter, `I must present you - Your Grace, this is Mr Hornblower, the new captain of Le Bevs. Her Grace the Duchess of Wharfedale.' A duchess, no less! Hornblower poked forward his padded leg, pointed his toe, laid his hand on his heart and bowed with all the depth the tightness of his breeches allowed - he had still been growing when he bought books

Books > Old Books > Mr Midshipman Hornblower (1950)

Page 211

CHAPTER TEN - THE DUCHESS AND THE DEVIL

plaster from the surgeon's stores, and Hornblower now had a couple of legs of which no one need be ashamed. He could put his left leg forward to make his bow without any fear of wrinkles in his stockings, and sublimely conscious, as Bracegirdle said, of a leg of which any gentleman would be proud.
At Government House the usual polished and languid aidede-camp took charge of Hornblower and led him forward. He made his bow to Sir Hew, a red-faced and fussy old gentleman, and to Lady Dalrymple, a red-faced and fussy old lady.
`Mr Hornblower,' said the latter, `I must present you - Your Grace, this is Mr Hornblower, the new captain of Le Bevs. Her Grace the Duchess of Wharfedale.'
A duchess, no less! Hornblower poked forward his padded leg, pointed his toe, laid his hand on his heart and bowed with all the depth the tightness of his breeches allowed - he had still been growing when he bought them on joining the Indefatigable. Bold blue eyes, and a once beautiful middle-aged face. "
`So this 'ere's the feller in question?' said the duchess. 'Matilda, my dear, are you going to hentrust me to a hinfant in harms?'
The startling vulgarity of the accent took Hornblower's breath away. He had been ready for almost anything except that a superbly dressed duchess should speak in the accent of Seven Dials. He raised his eyes to stare, while forgetting to straighten himself up, standing with his chin poked forward and his hand still on his heart.
`You look like a gander on a green,' said the duchess. `I hexpects you to 'iss hany moment.'
She stuck her own chin out and swung from side to side with her hands on her knees in a perfect imitation of a belligerent goose, apparently with so close a resemblance to Hornblower as well as to excite a roar of laughter from the other guests. Hornblower stood in blushing confusion.
`Don't be 'ard on the young feller,' said the duchess, coming