her in title, did not, as she knew, come near her in real consequence, and whom, in fact, she looked upon as mighty ordinary people. But perceiving that she was occasioning embarrassment to Lady Bellenden, and that she could easily turn the ill breeding of which she might be accused upon her rivals, she with admirable presence of mind started up, exclaiming, "Dear me, ladies, I have a million of pardons to beg; pray Lady Bellenden excuse me; I have quite forgot myself; I really thought I was in my own county." Then insisting upon placing Lady Bluemantle in the chair she resigned, she observed with a laugh, that titles were really now become so common, that a plain gentlewoman never could tell whereabouts she

was.

Miss Lyttleton here proposed a side-table, the fun of which she said she should like of all things; adding she was sure she should prove an excellent

toast-master.

"Perhaps," said Mrs. Neville, will make room for me; or what

"Lady Gertrude may be better still,

suppose we all go to the bottom of the table; Lord Bellenden will, I hope, be glad to receive us." At these words moving downwards, she was followed by Lady Gertrude and Mr. Beaumont, who said it was an excellent plan; and having deranged the whole settlement in Lord Bellenden's neighbourhood, the

Baronet ladies having agreed upon their seniorities at the upper end, all was harmony, and the dinner commenced.

CHAP. V.

POLITE CONVERSATION.

"Our court, you know, is haunted with a refined traveller of

Spain."

SHAKSPEARE.

"ADMIRABLY carried!" said Tremaine to Georgina, by whom he had seated himself about the middle of the table, after having observed the whole contest with more than usual interest. "The Empress Catharine could not have settled it better, had she condescended to squabble about such a thing."

"Pray Sir, did you know any thing about the Empress Catharine ?" asked a gentleman who sat opposite, and happened to hear him.

"Not personally," answered Tremaine, rather surprised at the abruptness of the stranger.

"I knew her, I may say intimately," replied the gen tleman, "and all her ministers, generals, and ladies." Tremaine bowed with great distance of manner; then, turning to Georgina, began to do the honours

of that part of the table, wondering who this stranger was, who was so familiarly disposed.

"I had letters," continued the stranger, not allow ing Tremaine to escape, "from old Kaunitz, to whom I had been recommended by the ministry here, which gave me the greatest facilities at the court of St. Petersburgh."

"I dare say, Sir," answered Tremaine coldly.

"My first rencontre with Prince Kaunitz," continued the gentleman with intrepid vivacity," was remarkable-and I will relate it if you please."

"Whether I please or not, it seems," said Tremaine in a low voice. The stranger then sending away his plate, went on thus: "Lord R. (then Mr. R.) and myself agreed to ride into Vienna; it was the first time we were there; I visited it several times afterwards, both on my return from Berlin and from Poland."

"Do you know this person?" said Tremaine to Evelyn.

"Not I," answered the Doctor, "but he seems amusing."

"Amusing!” cried Tremaine.

"Hear him," said the Doctor.

"Well," proceeded the traveller, "Lord R. (then Mr. R.) and I, resolved to ride into Vienna on posthorses. Lord R. was then young, handsome, and gay, and perhaps the greatest beau of his age. He

wore red heels to his boots, and gilt spurs-had on a gold-laced riding coat and hat, a coteau de chasse by his side, and a long hunter's whip in his hand."

"That's just like the picture of my father," said Sir Marmaduke; adding in a low voice to Lady Bellenden," who the devil is this odd gentleman ?”

Lady Bellenden informed him it was Sir William Wagstaff, a great Author and Traveller, who had brought letters of introduction to Lord Bellenden, in his way to the north. Some fish stopped the progress of the story-which the company thought was lost; when Mr. Placid, who had been very attentive, said—“ Pray Sir, go on; what you were relating was very entertaining."

"Sir, you do me honour," resumed the stranger; and immediately addressing himself to him, contitinued: "well, we came in at a canter, preceded by an avant courier, and attended by two English grooms and two French valets, all on horseback: and whom should we meet but Prince Kaunitz taking an airing in his coach and six.”

"Indeed!" exclaimed Mr. Placid.

"He was struck with the cavalcade, and presuming that some great person-- possibly a crowned head, or what perhaps interested him as much at leastsome great Ambassador,—was arriving, he put his head out of his coach window, and made us a low bow; and clasping his hands in an entreating man

ner, exclaimed, • Monsieur-oserai-je vous demander, qui est ce qui arrive?' My Lord R. (then Mr. R.) immediately reined up his horse, and pulling off his hat in a very chivalrous manner, with his right hand on his breast, and a low bow, replied 'Monsieur, c'est moi.' The astonished prince overwhelmed with the liberty he had taken, shrunk back in his coach, with a long drawn exclamation of Ah! which none of this company, I apprehend, if they have not been abroad, can appre ciate."

"It is a delightful story," said Mr. Placid. "Pray Sir, did nothing else pass ?"

"What a parasite !" observed Tremaine to Evelyn.

"The gentleman does not think so," answered Evelyn.

The gentleman went on

very evening presented to

Why yes, we were that

Prince Kaunitz at his

assembly, and, to his surprise, he found in Lord R. the gentleman whom he had taken for a foreign Ambassador.'

"I never heard any thing more entertaining," said Mr. Placid.

Somebody now mentioning a particular name, it immediately caught the traveller's ear, as belonging to an Author of some notoriety from a northern kingdom, who was a traveller too, but who rested