146 LIFE OF MYTTON. 



lection, unless I lost my reason, of that distressing 

 scene. But it is true, thought I, as I listened to the 

 sad tale, what is said of woman, that Heaven is 

 pleased to make distress become her, and dresses her 

 most amiably in tears. 



But independently of conduct towards herself, 

 there were other circumstances which must have been 

 the source of much pain to this amiable lady. No^ 

 thing is more precious to a woman's heart than the 

 good name and credit of him she loves. The unfor- 

 tunate turf connection, then, between Mr. Mytton and 

 the person I have just previously alluded to, sank 

 deep in that of the lady in question, and well might 

 it have stung her honest pride to the quick. The 

 best of men is not free from human infirmity ; but 

 of all the vices short of what is termed " the great 

 offence," to which a gentletnan can be addicted, no- 

 thing so far debases and lowers him in the eyes of all 

 who have an interest in his welfare, as his quitting the 

 rank to which he by birth belongs. 'Tis the last step 

 io a general dereliction of all crentlemanlike feeling-s, 

 and a sorry compliment to his former friends. " Tell 

 ,me with whom you associate," said the sage, " and 

 I'll tell you what you are," was one of the noblest 

 Jessons, if not the severest rebuke, ever given to 



