The mansion is in itself a fit residence for the most illustrious family; the furniture and decorations are superb. The ball was spirited and well conducted, and the supper en Prince; the music was delectable, a number of bands were in attendance. The band of Troubadours, appropriately dressed, pleased us the best, (who are we?) although we must give the due meed of praise to the grand orchestra and to the animating Gows." Here the writer took occasion to name the sa't wives with great and rapturous applause. It was also remarked, that as the amiable and accomplished Duke of Inverary led a fair countrywoman into the banquet-room, the band struck up

"All the blue bonnets are over the border."

(Surely, Caledonia, thou gettest thy share of praise.)-To this puff succeeded a list of the company and their dresses, similar to "the Right and True Lists of all the Running Horses," (of old,) "Names and Colours of the Riders," (who dares add?) "likewise the Sporting Ladies,"

although a horse-race and an assembly, or ball, are not so dissimilar as may be imagined. In each the race of emulation is run, the palm of fashion is at stake: some have a hard push for it; others win easy, or, as it is termed, in a hand canter; some have the good luck to walk over the course there are also the favourites of the day, a great fuss made about the breed, a good deal of underhand dealing, crossing, and jostling. The light purse is always distanced, the owner breaks down and is dead beat; but lightfoot gets off second-best, by bolting when convenient, and the tradesmen find it is P. P. with them, i. e. pay or play; for if the former cannot be accomplished, there is nothing for it but making the play.

Whether her Ladyship paid a round sum for this public announcement, or whether "we" were really present and received indirect remuneration, matters very little; perhaps, like Pea Green Ane, she took two dozen of the papers daily. If she did so, she made a better choice

than the West Indian, who subsidised a paper, the circulation of which was far from extensive.

Young Greenlaw had scarcely had time to peruse the rest of the fashionable news, when Lady Gertrude was announced as a visitor, all sick and worn out as she was, having something surprising to inform him of. She held a letter in her hand, and, after receiving congratulations on the success of her admirable entertainment, she proceeded to open and read it. It was a very long epistle from her good friend Lady Claver, to inform her that Lady Lydia Languish had run off, and left a legion of unpaid creditors; that the town was in an uproar about it; that her doors resembled the unfortunate bank in Berners-street, on their failure being made known; and that some went so far as to assert, that Mr. Bramblewood, of the Guards, had eloped with her. This extraordinary despatch arrived at 7 A. M. while the supper was in its full enjoyment; but the porter handed it to the Groom of the Chambers, the Groom of the

Chambers gave it to my Lady's footman my Lady's footman delivered it to my Lady's femme de chambre, and Mademoiselt put it on her La'ship's dressing-table, which accounted for the delay in its reception. We had almost forgotten to add, that Lady Claver affected to pity the departed widow, but felicitated her friend on having escaped forming a connexion with such a woman. The only answer Herbert made to his mother was- 66 I am very sorry for it" and a tear stole in his eye, so much had he fallen off from that insipid, contemptuous, coxcomical, yet high-bred indifference to common events and to human misery.

At this instant a second dispatch arrived from the Collector-General of Reports, and would-be Comptroller-General of the town, to announce that she was on the way to the Square: mamma flew off to meet her, and her son sank on the sofa in a state of stupor.

CHAPTER V.

DISSIMULATION.- -DISSIPATION. -THE RACE OF

FOLLY.

“Ordinis hæc virtus erit et venus (aut ego fallor) Ut jam nunc dicat, jam nunc debentia dici Pleraque differat, et presens in tempus omittat." HORAT.

THERE is such a thing as keeping up the ball too long, (no allusion to men or things,) as well as not being able to keep it up at all, or letting it drop too soon and end abruptly: therefore will we take our old vade mecum's advice, and add no more respecting the ball and supper in the Square for the present, reserving to ourselves an opportunity of commencing