MISS MIE-MIE 165 



talent depended upon whether that arbiter of half 

 mankind, Fashion, regarded it to be conime il faut or 

 not. His grace's views, though fortunately not exact, 

 are far from being devoid of truth. But what has been 

 set forth, together with a lot more of the doctor's 

 catechisations in a similar strain, at last attempts to 

 force a confession from the Duke as to his real feeling 

 towards Mie-Mie and her accomplishments, which 

 was fenced by the wily Queensberry, who, though 

 loving the child as the apple of his eye, was far 

 too cautious to give it expression against himself as 

 Selwyn did. That his grace intended Mie-Mie 

 should have his regard, whether professed or not, 

 will be proved. 



In reference to this letter of Warner's, his grace's 

 well- acted nonchalance brought forth this epitome of 

 his character : 



' I must do him justice to say that he seemed to rejoice 

 in your happiness, and, as I doubt not but that you have 

 received many marks of his sympathy, it is a just cause for 

 your loving him. But as to myself, I have many acquaint- 

 ances in an humbler sphere of life, with as much informa- 

 tion, with as strong sense, and, as far as appears to me, 

 with abundantly more amiable qualities of the heart than 

 his Grace of Queensberry.' 



Dr. Warner's estimate of his grace, derived from 



