underling to bring in "the box" containing, as I saw at a glance, all sorts of "perquisites,” in the shape of wax-candles, meat, biscuits, dried fruits, sugar, &c., &c., all of which she covered with a couple of damask table cloths, and then ordered her drudge to nail it down. After which it was carefully directed to Mr. Tibbs, the grocer.

I was perfectly astonished at this discovery, and soon found that Mrs. Lardner was not the only servant who took tithe of all that passed through her hands. But amidst all the splendour and extravagance which this house displayed, nothing surprised me so much as the mixture with it of meanness.

Tradesmen who came with their bills were continually being driven from the door with the most shabby excuses, and all sorts of shifts were made use of to get fresh supplies of wanton luxuries. In proportion as things went to rack and ruin, so was the reckless profusion.

The servants, in imitation of their superiors, were an idle, worthless, and dissipated set,

spending their whole time, when not absolutely wanted, in dancing, gaming, and drinking.

I was often invited by Mrs. Lardner, the housekeeper, to her parties, which, as may be imagined, I civilly declined.

At length I became so uneasy at the profligacy and pilfering (to use no harsher word) which passed daily before my eyes, that I determined to consult Madame Lenoir (who had been the means of procuring me the situation, and who frequently came with dresses to Lady Dryden) as to how I ought to act.

Accordingly, the next time she came I mentioned to her my uneasiness at seeing so much dishonesty, and my doubts as to whether I ought not to inform Lady Dryden of it.

To my surprise Madame Lenoir exclaimed, "For heaven's sake, my dear child, don't talk such nonsense! You would do your lady no good, and yourself a great deal of harm. Her ladyship would be the first to laugh in your face, and the servants would take care that you should never get into another situation.

Keep quiet till your year is expired; it will not be long, as you have already been here seven months, and then you may hear of something more suitable for you."

I thanked her for her advice, which I determined to follow, resolving in the mean time to mix as little as possible with those whose conduct was so disgusting to me.

Great preparations were now being made for a ball and supper on the most splendid scale, and Lady Dryden could talk and think of nothing else, particularly of her dress for the occasion, which was sumptuous in the extreme.

It was quite a puzzle to me how Sir Thomas and herself could get trusted for all the fine and expensive things which came pouring in for this magnificent fête.

At length the long-looked-for evening arrived, and I never saw any thing like the spirits in which both Sir Thomas and Lady Dryden were at receiving their numerous guests.

Madame Lenoir, who was with me, having come on purpose to see the splendid show, observed, "Who would have thought there

had been an execution in this house this very

morning!"

"An execution!" I exclaimed, "what is that?"

Madame Lenoir soon enlightened me, and I was really filled with dismay as I listened to her explanation. Soon after, she took her leave, as she only remained to note down or criticise the dresses of those ladies who did not employ her.

I remained about half an hour longer in the ante-room which opened into the ball-room, watching the movements of the gay and thoughtless throng, when I was struck by the appearance of two rough-looking men pushing into the room, followed by a couple of footmen, who attempted to keep the fellows back, but in vain.

"I tell you what," said one of the men, "if you don't send your master to me this minute, I'll fetch him out of the ball-room myself."

The footman, who saw that remonstrance was useless, went into the room, and after some time returned with Sir Thomas, who pro

ceeded to beg the men to leave the house, assuring them that they should he paid on the

morrow.

"Your promises are pie-crust," said one of them, "and I won't trust to them no longer, so pay me this very minute, or you must take the consequences."

Sir Thomas, finding that arguments and entreaties were alike useless, returned to the dancers to look, as he said, for a friend.

In a short time he came back, bringing with him a handsome, but very silly-looking young man, and calling for pens and paper, informed the bailiffs (for such they were) that he supposed a draft from Lord Nonsuch would satisfy them.

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Certainly," replied the men, and accordingly the foolish young lord drew a draft for five hundred pounds, which the fellows took with a pleased grin, and immediately withdrew.

Sir Thomas, placing his arm within that of his young victim, drew him towards the ballroom, saying, "Thank you, thank you, my dear lord, for your kind assistance, which I should