A VIRGINIAN. 31 



pet, looking out of the window as earnestly as if lie 

 was noting every thing that passed by, but without 

 uttering one word to his friend, who was deeply enga- 

 ged in an article of the Edinburg Review, on the 

 treaty of Unkiar SJcelessi, and the policy of Russia. 



At this moment the door opened, and a servant out 

 of livery came in, bearing two notes and as many vis- 

 iting cards upon a silver waiter, which he tendered 

 first to Fairfax and then to his master. 



"Ah ! just so," exclaimed Matuschevitz, " Cheshire's 

 visiting cards, and begs me to apologize to you for 

 short notice, and so forth, but trusts you will excuse 

 want of formality from consideration of desire to make 

 your acquaintance — my lady wrote that note, I'll be 

 sworn ; Chess couldn't have managed that to save his 

 life. Yours is of course the regular thing. Yes, I 

 see." 



" The Earl and Countess of Cheshire request the 

 honor of Col. Fairfax's company to dinner on Sunday, 

 19th, at eight o'clock. 



R. S. V. P." 



" Well, take your pen, colonel, and indite — happy 

 to do yourself the honor, and so forth ; what are you 

 looking so gloomy about, one would think you weie 

 invited to fight, not to dine?" 



" To tell you the truth, count, I had about as soon 

 do the one as the other ; but I suppose the thing is 

 unavoidable, and that I cannot in ordinary decorum 

 shun it if I would." 



" Of course, you cannot ; and why should you ? 

 You did not come to Melton to live like a hermit, I 

 suppose." 



*'No, I came to hunt," replied Fairfax, somewhat 

 ungraciously, " but as this has occurred, I'll prepare 

 the answer." 



