150 Dick Denlap. [Fxs. 
fleshly frailty, together with his umbrella, at the entrance-lodge. He 
now thought this question of Sophy’s afforded him a fair opportunity of 
getting remunerated with a little lady-like sympathy, and perhaps com- 
mendation, to counterbalance the jests of his male acquaintance.— 
“ Why, Miss,” he replied, “I must confess ursa-major is to me the 
most interesting animal in the place; not merely because you say so. 
but because they tell us he retires, when grown ‘more fat than bear 
beseems,’ into dignified solitude ; and after living six months simply by 
sucking his paws, issues forth a perfect specimen of ursine gentility. This 
is a practice from which I have often thought it would be wise in me to 
take a hint; and I only wish I had fortitude enough to set about it.’’ 
Dick’s stratagem took effect. ‘ Dear me!” said the widow, “ what 
can have put that odd notion in your head, Mr. Dewlap? I’m sure you 
are not at all too stout.” “ Oh, not the least in the world,” echoed the 
two young ladies, in the same breath (the sweetest, I dare say, in Dick’s 
estimation, that ever issued from rosy lips). His gratitude rushed 
into his cheeks, and he made a bow of profound deference to their supe- 
rior judgments. Aircastle winked at me, with the eye that was turned 
from the rest of the company, but with laudable forbearance held his 
tongue. Shortly afterwards, Richard, with an air of triumphant cour- 
tesy, that would have done honour to his lion-hearted namesake, offered 
his puissant arm to Mrs. Lightfoot, and we left the gardens, much pleased 
with our visit and ourselves. 
As we walked towards the residence of the ladies, which skirts the 
park, the subject of calisthenics was started; and, at my suggestion, 
the obliging damsels proffered, if Mr. Dewlap really thought himself 
rather too stout (which, however, was by no means apparent to them), to 
give him, from their book of knowledge, some instructions, which they 
had no doubt would quickly invest him with a waist like that described 
by the poet (exemplified in each of their own, by the by), “ fine by 
degrees, and beautifully less.’ The offer was of course accepted with 
gratitude ; and, when we arrived at the house, Dick allowed me, 
as a special favour (resolutely excluding poor Toby) to be present at 
his inaugural lesson. 
Mr. Dewlap was first directed to take the dumb-bells, and open his 
chest, as the best preparative for other amusements that awaited him ; 
with these practised for some minutes, when, with panting pathos, he 
requested a truce, and begged that his exercise, though he found it 
exceedingly pleasant, might be varied as often as possible. In order to- 
accommodate him, a skipping rope was now put into his hands, and his 
grotesque performances with it, made me think the days of Orpheus and 
jumping towers had returned; the skipping-rope, however, was soon 
withdrawn, at it is well known our houses now-a-days are not built 
with any view of resisting the shock of an earthquake ; moreover, the 
cook came up to complain that all the plates and dishes in the kitchen 
were tumbling about her ears. 
It were useless to describe, even if it were possible to remember, the 
numberless contortions (all doubtless equally useful and ornamental) 
which poor Dick had to exhibit in this his initiatory service at the altar 
of the Graces. At its conclusion, however, his fair instructors allowed 
that he had acquitted himself with astonishing fortitude and cleverness, 
and, moreover, favoured us with an invitation to dinner. 
We walked home to dress, and on our way Dick told me, in confi- 
