384 THE BLOOMSBURY CHRISTENING. 



Mr. Danton was a young man of about five-and-twenty, with a 

 considerable stock of impudence, and a very small share of ideas: he 

 was a great favourite, especially with young ladies of from sixteen to 

 twenty-six years of age, both inclusive. He could imitate the French 

 horn to admiration, sang comic songs most inimitably, and had the 

 most insinuating way of saying impertinent nothings to his doating 

 female admirers. He had acquired, somehow or other, the reputation 

 of being a great wit, and, accordingly, whenever he opened his mouth, 

 everybody who knew him laughed very heartily. 



The introduction took place in due form. Mr. Danton bowed and 

 twirled a lady's handkerchief, which he held in his hand, in a most 

 comic way. Everybody smiled. 



" Very warm," said Dumps, feeling it necessary to say something. 



" Yes. It was warmer yesterday," returned the brilliant Mr. Dan- 

 ton. A general laugh. 



" I have great pleasure in congratulating you on your first appear- 

 ance in the character of a father, sir/' he continued, addressing Dumps 

 " godfather, I mean." The young ladies were convulsed, and the 

 gentlemen in ecstasies. 



A general hum of admiration interrupted the conversation and an- 

 nounced the entrance of nurse with the baby. A universal rush of the 

 young ladies immediately took place. (Girls are always so fond of 

 babies in company.) 



" Oh, you dear !" said one. 



" How sweet !" cried another, in a low tone of the most enthusiastic 

 admiration. 



" Heavenly !" added a third. 



" Oh ! what dear little arms !" said a fourth, holding up an arm 

 and fist about the size and shape of the leg of a fowl cleanly picked. 



" Did you ever" said a little coquette with a large bustle, who 

 looked like a French lithograph, appealing to a gentleman in three 

 waistcoats " Did you ever" 



" Never, in my life," returned her admirer, pulling up his collar. . 



" Oh, do let me take it, nurse/' cried another young lady. " The 

 love !" 



" Can it open its eyes, nurse ?" inquired another, affecting the ut- 

 most innocence. Suffice it to say that the single ladies unanimously " 

 voted him an- angel, and that the married ones, nem. con., agreed that 

 he was decidedly the finest baby they had ever beheld except their 

 own. 



The quadrilles were resumed with great spirit, Mr. Danton was 

 universally admitted to be beyond himself, several young ladies en- 

 chanted the company and gained admirers by singing, <{ We met" 

 " I saw her at the Fancy Fair" "Can I believe Love's Wreath will 

 pain ?" and other equally sentimental and interesting ballads. " The 

 young men," as Mrs. Kitterbell said, ' ' made themselves very agree- 

 able;" the girls did not lose their opportunity; and the evening 

 promised to go off excellently. Dumps didn't mind it : he had de- 

 vised a plan for himself a little bit of fun in his own way and he 

 was almost happy ! He played a rubber, and lost every point. Mr. 

 Danton said he could not have lost every point, because he made a 



