48 "HIGH LIFE."
accomplished. De Vaux laboured under a touch of the same
complaint, only it took a higher form in the man than in the
dog, and De Vaux and all his friends gave it another name.
They made out that De Vaux, with his gifts and prospects,
was rendered so difficult to satisfy, while he had such a crav-
ing after perfection, that the whole machinery of history and
society disheartened and distressed him, until he could not
make up his mind-and it did not really seem worth while to
make it up-to join any political party, conservative or reform-
ing, or take up any calling or work in life, beyond dreaming
over what might have been, and deploring what was.
 De Vaux was not unlike Carlo in body and mind, if you
make allowance for the fact that the man was royally endowed
compared to the dog. The young lord was a fine handsome
young fellow, more elegant than muscular, in spite of the
muscular education he had received both at his public school
and his university, yet quite manly enough to despise sybarite
indulgences and face hardships when they came in the way of
his sport or travels. What was enervated in him had to do
with his excessive fastidiousness and his want of hopefulness,
his mental and moral languor. He was sufficiently thoughtful
always, and courteously considerate when one came across
him personally-so kindly that he would not have harmed a
fly-always unless in the way of sport.
 De Vaux was grieved to disappoint his noble parents, who
would have liked him, with his rank and talents, to enter the
world and do his devoir, and win his spurs gallantly. But
to him the game was not worth the candle; and when he
regarded his fellow-players and the weapons he must use, he
shrank unconquerably from the contest. Altogether, he was