52 GOSSIP 



little ; but before the fresh horses were put to, he called 

 me to him, and, addressing the lady, said, — 



"Ann, here is a friend of mine, who has a great wish 

 to be introduced to you." 



Somewhat abashed at so sudden an appeal to my 

 gallantry, raising my hat, I unhesitatingly stepped 

 forward, when the lady held out her hand, and, with one 

 of her beautiful smiles, said, — 



" I am sure I shall be highly honoured by his ac- 

 quaintance." 



There was only time for a few commonplaces on the 

 beauty of the day, &c., and a laugh and a hearty shake of 

 the hand, with "How are you, ?" from her com- 

 panion, when, the postillions being ready to start, I 

 withdrew, with as an accomplished a farewell bow as I 

 knew how to perpetrate, or joerhaps the rules of society 

 could desire. The author of this attack upon the 

 simplicity of my morning's conversation, accompanied me 

 to the bar, where we renewed our gossip over a bottle of 

 champagne. 



The house where I stopped at Oxford — the" Roebuck" 

 — was then kept by two young ladies, possessing other 

 accomplishments, both mental and personal, besides those 

 necessary for their station, without that brusque and 

 familiar air which generally characterizes females brought 

 up in an inn — at the same time not assuming a particle 

 of the affected importance common with good-looking 

 landladies. 



The time of my daily sojourn — that is, from two or 

 half-past in the day till the following forenoon — passed 

 agreeably enough ; sometimes at my hotel, where I met a 



