The Hon. Adolphus Lightfoot. 91 



trotted them out for the Misses Simpson's benefit, and the 

 consequence was that those damsels danced away to their 

 hearts' content. Judging by his looks the "Domestic 

 Tyrant " did not half like the look of things ; however, for 

 once in way he was not allowed a voice in the matter. 

 Finally, at the end of the entertainment, instead of going 

 quietly home to bed, our volatile acquaintance insisted on 

 the whole family accompanying him to the famous tart- 

 shop in the town, an attention highly appreciated by the 

 younger branches of the Simpson family, you may be 

 certain. Heavens ! how (incited thereto by Dolly) they 

 pitched into Madame's insinuating pastry. It did one 

 good to see them. In short, if ever that gay specimen ol 

 a philanthropist, Dolly Lightfoot, deserved well of his 

 country, it was on that eventful evening. No wonder that 

 poor, crushed Mrs. Simpson expressed her opinion to 

 us in confidence, as we walked home at two o'clock in the 

 morning, that the Honourable Mr. Lightfoot was the most 

 perfect member of the aristocracy she had ever beheld. 



Dolly is, in fact, popular wherever he goes, and no- 

 where more so than in his own county of Buttercupshire. 

 The ladies all like him (he is such fun, they say, and so 

 delightfully wicked) ; the men swear by him as the best 

 of good fellows ; and children positively adore him. Dogs, 

 too, always take to him at first sight ; a good sign, in our 

 humble opinion. 



With dependants also he is a great favourite. Tom 

 Tootler's cap comes off with a sweep and his whippers-in 

 grin double, when Dolly canters up to the meet ; the game- 

 keepers, too, always take care he is put in a ''good place " 

 at their masters' battues. He can shoot uncommonly 

 straight, and no doubt he is a " good tip," but we fancy it 



