Page:Vivian Grey, Volume 1.djvu/160

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150
VIVIAN GREY.

be a very fair specimen of your ancient literature, and Major Denham's hair-breadth escapes of your modern. There was an excellent story about town, on the return of Denham and Clapperton. The travellers took different routes, in order to arrive at the same point of destination. In his wanderings, the Major came unto an unheard-of Lake, which, with a spirit, which they of the Guards surely approved, he christened "Lake Waterloo." Clapperton arrived a few days after him; and the pool was immediately re-baptised "Lake Trafalgar." There was a hot quarrel in consequence. Now, if I had been there, I would have arranged matters, by proposing as a title to meet the views of all parties, "The United Service Lake."

"That would certainly have been very happy."

"How beautiful Margaret is!" said Vivian, rising from his Ottoman, and seating himself