AN AWKWARD HABIT.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7908, 26 February 1894, Page 4

AN AWKWARD HABIT.

The habib of thinking aloud waa a peculiarity of oue ot the Earla of Dudley, and of this an amusing anecdote is told. Lord Dudley being invited to bho house of a friend, had ordered big carriage at an early hour, having pome milps to travel before ho could obtain hia accustomed repose. To his greab mortification, after repeated inquiries for Lord Dudlpy's carriage, it had not arrived, Ono of the guests, seeing how much his lordship waa disconcerted by the ovenb, very politely offered him a seat in his. Tho gentleman in question had bo pjss his lordship's house on bis return homo, and although he was almost a stranger to Lord Dudley, his mnk and position in the country were of cuirse well known to him. Novertbeless, they had nob been seated in tho carriage more than twenty minutes whon the peer, who had up to that momenb maintained a mosb porfect ■ulonee, observed in a low, but disl i.ot!y audible, tono of voice : " I'm very sony I iiccepted his offor. I don't know the man. Ib was civil, certainly ; but tho worst is I Biipposo I miißb ask him to dinner." Ho then lehipsed into hiß former ,tato of taciturnity, when, aft6r a few minutod, the gentleman, pretending to bo alllicted with tho same failing, and imitating his lordhhip'o tono, observod : •• Perhaps he'll think I did it to uiiko h s acquaintance. Why, I would In.vo done tho same to any fannor on his estate. 1 hope he won't think it necessary to ask me to dinner, for I shun'b aucupt his invitation." Lord Dudloy listened to him with earnest interest, immediately compref.ended tho joke which he had himself piovoked, offered his hand with much hearty goodwill to his companion, making every proper apology for his involuntary rudeness, and from that night the travellers became inseparable iriends.