214 THE GKNTLKMAN USHER. 



full, was exquisitely white and well-formed a hand de bonne societe, 

 and I began to grow interested. " There is a dim glimmering on 

 the horizon of my memory, Madam/' said I, " that I once had the 

 honour of handing you to your carriage at the door of the opera 

 house." " Possibly, possibly." " But you were so wrapped up I 

 recollect your voice was so agitated too for you had lost your 

 party the crest on the pannel, however, if I do not forget I had 

 not time to look at the arms the crest I say was " " A demi-bull, 

 rampant, argent, with horns and hoofs of gold, rising out of a ducal 

 coronet?" " Exactly so." (f It must then have been myself or Lady 

 G., Sir Peter's elder brother's wife, daughter to Lord Henry F. Ah ! 

 that was the golden age of my life ; but Sir Peter squandered away 

 every thing he loved me so : not but what B. does all in his power. 

 You must know that B. was his lordship's chaplain, and my noble 

 brother-in-law advanced him two thousand pounds to purchase this 

 affair on the morning of our marriage. It's not a bad thing. I re- 

 tain my box, and B. keeps me a cab comme il faul, but he can't 

 drive, and it's dreadful to be seen with one's rhinoceros by one's side 

 instead of on the foot-board. Besides if B. could drive, how could I 

 introduce him?" "His style," I observed, "is not exactly " 

 <f Far from it, and as I said before, when you know me better " 

 " Of that pleasure, at least under present circumstances, I can have 

 no hopes." 



I then gave a rapid sketch of my interview with the pedagogue 

 who, at the very instant I came to a conclusion, made his appearance 

 -begrimed, sudorific, and the very reverse of dignified. " My dear," 

 said Mrs. B., the moment he entered, " I am sorry to find that you 

 and this gentleman are in danger of differing on the very trifling 

 subject of terms; but I trust he will reconsider the matter. Dr. 

 Peters, though a man of high reputation, was not dissatisfied with 

 two hundred a-year." " Two hundred/' interrupted Mr. B. " surely 

 but my memory " " True my dear ; then the gentleman should 

 be told, by way of inducement, that there is no drudgery." " Not 

 in the least." " No getting up at six in the morning winter and 

 summer." "Oh dear no! that is, if " "No carving for, and 

 dining with the boys." " Certainly not, provided " " You can 

 do all that, you know, my dear, and who so capable ? No walking to 

 church with the unruly urchins no watching in the playground." 

 " Decidedly not : what are the junior ushers for ? that is, in case " 

 " Yes, in case, as you say, the gentleman is not a mere pedant, 

 out combines abstract learning with a practical knowledge of the 

 world one who, by his talents and manners, can increase the num- 

 ber as well as the rank of your pupils one who can fairly represent 

 you among distinguished parents and guardians in town, while you 

 are doing the quiet, unobtrusive drudgery at home a man of 

 family " You did not tell me you were a man of family, Sir," 

 said the meek B., " this is a desideratum. At present, I really can- 

 not well afford more than " " Two hundred a-year/' interrupted 

 Mrs. B., " but with an increase of pupils " " Aye, my dear, with 

 an increase of pupils " " You might, perhaps, double it." " Oh ! 

 very true, my love, but " 



