270 REMINISCENCES OF THE LEWS. 



not ended at eight, and at different intervals 

 every male of the party, except myself, got up 

 and kissed his neighbour. They were all 

 hideous old women, such as Berlin alone can 

 produce — for though it is the city of heroes, 

 it is not the capital of beauties. How I did 

 wish it had been the custom at our party ! for 

 my neighbour was " La Belle Sylvia," as we 

 used to call her ; and I never shall forget the 

 ring of her voice or the laughter of her eyes 

 at the butler's speech. 



And now, to apply my story. To those, 

 then, who, having known me for twenty years, 

 must be aware that noblesse oblige forms some 

 part of a gentleman's character, yet imagine 

 that, from private pique, I would injure the 

 beloved Lews, I say, " Mrs. B., I'm ashamed at 

 you entertaining such mane ideas." 



Let, then, these Reminiscences speak for 

 themselves, and those capable of understanding 

 them will say they are a proud justification, 

 if, indeed, any was needed. 



The mere shooter, who wants to let off his 

 gun often, and do his grouse, his salmon, his 

 deer, within a certain space of time, and get 

 back to his partridges, his pheasants, and his 

 early November hunting ; or the man out only 



