THE GENTLEMAN USHER. 213 



" Then as regards order on the common, especially when it's dirty, 

 as to-day, for instance, " " And the salary" " Why, to tell the 

 truth, I don't think you'll suit ; still I've no objection to try you on 

 a reduced scale." " What may be your minimum, sir ? " " I am not 

 illiberal, sir : to a D. D. I believe I have given as much as a hun- 

 dred a-year. But then he was an Oxford man an Oxford Doctor, sir ? 

 To a bachelor I have gone so far as seventy-five ; that is, where they 

 have had large families to support in comfort and respectability I 

 think you said you were not married/' 



I was looking for my half-drowned hat, which I had placed be- 

 neath one of the chairs, determining to be off before he should rouze 

 my indignation, by an insulting offer. of thirty-five or forty pounds 

 a year, when the door was opened, and in swam a fine woman, about 

 forty fashionably attired affecting un air prononce, but rather 

 gauche, and a leetle vulgar. 



" I was not aware that you were engaged," said she, with preme- 

 ditated confusion, but evincing no intention to retire. 



" It's only an usher another candidate my dear," said B. " Oh ! 

 indeed." She had already scanned me with her eye, and notwith- 

 standing the state of my attire, I felt that she was far from disgusted. 

 I bowed she curtsied motioned me to the arm-chair from which 

 B. had arisen on her entrance, and was about to throw herself on a 

 settee, when a sudden thought seemed to strike her, and she hastily 

 approached the pedagogue., exclaiming, " Oh ! Mr. B., you can 

 have no conception of the filthy state of those plebeian little wretches, 

 the grocer's wife's boys are in; they are actually dabbling in the 

 duck-pond. Sweeping the common with my opera-glass, from my 

 boudoir window juct now, I luckily detected them. You know their 

 horrid vulgar mamma is coming this evening. You must exert your 

 personal authority, for not a monitor, not an usher is to be seen." 



B. bolted off, with a celerity equal to that displayed by Master 

 Williams, and the lady, with a languishing air, exclaimed, throwing 

 herself into a seat, "This is a shocking life, Sir but I should not dis- 

 courage you especially for one who has moved in a different sphere." 

 " Indeed it is, Madam !" said I, with an emphasis that made her 

 start with emotion. " I have the honour of addressing Mrs. B. 

 perhaps." tc I am Mrs. B., Sir ; but excuse me I think I have 

 seen you somewhere." " Possibly, Madam." " Did you ever pass 

 a season at Bath ?" <c Several, Madam, I am sorry to say, or I 

 should not be, as I am now, soliciting the place of " e< Pardon me, 

 I have not always been Mrs. B. Captain Sir Peter Gatton was my 

 first husband, and a a " " Madam, I meant to have proposed 

 myself to Mr. B. under the common name of Smith, but, as a gentle- 

 man, I cannot, in honour, do otherwise than comply with the deli- 

 cate call you have made on me for my card ; my name, madam, 

 is " " Hold ! Hold ! I conjure you. Not for the world would I 

 be guilty of such a thing as destroying a gentleman's incognito. 

 When you know me better, Sir, you will find that Honoria Gatton 

 has the feelings of a lady, although now Good Heavens !" She 

 put the corner of her handkerchief to each of her eyes in rapid suc- 

 cession the action was graceful, and her hand, though rather too 



