in the country, at a period when a communication with the capital, and a consequent intercourse with its refinements and fashions, were so much more restricted than at present. This slight air of rusticity, however, was more than redeemed by a fund of modesty and good sense, combined with a depth of feeling, in which she seemed to share her brother's impetuous temperament, unprofaned by any of his accompa nying faults or vices. In her utter ignorance of the beau monde, she had formed all her conceptions of the finished fine gentleman of the court, from books and plays; and Sir Harcourt Slingsby seemed not less eminently to eclipse these embodyings of her reading, than he did the boors and fox-hunters of her familiar obser vation. Beneath all his coxcombry and affected phrases, she had discovered so many evidences of a superior head and heart, especially when by having no object for displaying his assumed, or at least his habitual character, he suffered his real one the more freely to escape, that she really knew not whether to consider him most of a fop or a philosopher. For the

purpose of clearing up her doubts upon this point, she ventured to express her surprise, while they were pacing up and down the bowling-green, that any person qualified to attain eminence in other ways, should devote his time, fortune, and attention to the fluctuations of fashion, and such frivolous distinctions as were merely external.

"What is a man to do," said Sir Harcourt, with an appealing shrug of the shoulders, and extension of the hands, "who has six thousand pounds, and three hundred and sixty-five days and nights to dispose of every year of his existence? To take myself as an instance. May I grow fat! Madam, and spread, if I see what alternative is left to me between my present mode of life and utter indolence, which by generating ennui would ruin my spirits, and what is still worse-my looks. To attempt a profession, wealthy as I am, were but to worry myself unnecessarily if I fail, and to rob needy talent and industry if I succeed. I might indeed mingle in that fierce war of parties which is the current trade of the aristocracy, but I should as soon

VOL. II.

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think of leaping into the ring at Paris Garden, and fighting with Dove the famous bear, as of descending into the political arena, where all the angry feelings of mankind are pitted against each other. A complete gentleman, according to Sir Fopling Flutter, ought to dress well, dance well, fence well, have a genius for love letters, an agreeable voice for a chamber, to be very amorous, something discreet, and not very At all these accomplishments I have not the presumption to aim, but I would so far attain the character of a man of the mode, as to withdraw myself from all the hateful passions and pursuits of my fellow-creatures, that I may mingle as exclusively as possible in all their gaieties and pleasures."

constant.

“A very pleasant notion if it could but be reduced to practice," said Emily.

whitest

"And why not? May I lose my front tooth! Madam," resumed Sir Harcourt, who from habit could not lay aside his ridiculous phrases, even when he was disposed to talk seriously, "if any thing can be more simple;

I refuse to take cognisance of my neighbours by

any of their mutual provocatives to bitterness and hatred. Whig, Tory, and Trimmer are equally welcome to my festive entertainments ; while in my character of a mere man of fashion, caring about no party, I have pleasant access to the houses of all, and do my best to diffuse cheerfulness, good-humour, and gaiety around me. Out of regard to myself, I am careful not to wound the prejudices of others, for I wish to see none but smiling faces: while to avoid envy I talk nonsense, since sober good sense is quite out of fashion, and it is much better to be set down for a coxcomb than a prig or a vulgarian. In short, Madam, vive la bagatelle! is my motto, which I cannot more strictly observe than when I am considering how I myself, the greatest trifler about town, may live the most gaily and happily."

"But surely, Sir Harcourt, there is some degradation in enacting this character, when you feel yourself competent to support a superior

one.'

"May I cease to be original in my oaths,

Madam, if I think so.

Brutus played the fool

for the happiness of his country; I do it for my own, and to throw off a tyranny worse than that of the Tarquins the tyranny of sordid pursuits, angry feelings, and hateful prejudices. The wise can only fancy themselves happy in a certain society; the coxcomb is wiser still, for he enjoys all, and even finds a pleasure in his own." "As a matter of calculation you may be right," "but are you not subjecting yourself to an imputation of selfishness, or at least of vanity, in thus becoming, as it were, your own idol ?"

said Emily;

"If I do not show that I value myself, how shall I expect others to do it? The love that we feel for ourselves is at least a happy one, unexposed to the assaults of jealousy, the fear of rivals, and even the effects of time and inconstancy. True, some new Rosalind might think herself justified in saying to me 'You are rather point device in your accoutrements as loving yourself, than seeming the lover of any other;' but she would be wrong. It is because I love the whole sex that I endeavour to make myself agreeable to them. My life is a general