212 HOKSE PORTRAITURE. 



description would have been that of some bright feminine, 

 in place of a Pennsylvania Squire Osbaldeston, or Sir 

 Tatton. I looked for some dashing Die Vernon, and 

 though, not long ago, you informed me that a farm and 

 connubial happiness had evaded your grasp in the more 

 exciting whirl of the turf and road, I still thought the 

 idea had a charm which you were loth to give up. Now 

 this old gentleman in the mansion, on the well-stocked 

 farm, ought to have 



PBECEPTOE. Away you go like an unbroken horse with 

 the bit between his teeth ! Having made up your mind 

 that you are wonderfully cute, you start on a scent, right 

 or wrong, and follow it, like making a trotter of every 

 race horse, no matter whether he ambles or paces. 



PUPIL. Beg your pardon : and I promise not to make 

 any more unseasonable interruptions, hoping you will dis- 

 close to me in your own good time what I am sure is to 

 follow, and what would do me as much good as to see 

 Delia trot in twenty. 



PEECEPTOE. Your interruption, unseasonable or not, 

 came very near causing me to end abruptly the history of 

 my journey. But to finish your sentence, which I made the 

 break in, Mr. P. has not only a daughter, but several 

 of them, as well as sons. By way of punishment, I am 

 almost tempted not to describe the two elder daughters 

 of this interesting family ; but feel that, much as you will 

 boast of your penetration in discovering something that 

 has no form save in your distempered fancy, it will be ne- 

 cessary to introduce them, in order that you may under- 

 stand the numerous enjoyments their talents and edu- 

 cation gave me. The eldest, Jane, is even superior to her 

 father in beauty of form, face, and complexion. There is 

 a great resemblance in their appearance. Notwithstanding 

 there is nothing but masculine vigor in every point of the 

 father, yet it is toned down and modified in the daughter, 



