222 mr. 



" Suppose we have it on the day of the races?" continued Amelia. 



" Couldn't be better," replied his lordship ; " couldn't be better," 

 repeated he, eyeing her intently through his formidable specs. 



His lordship was quite in the assenting humour, and would have 

 agreed to anything — anything short of lending one a five-pound note. 



Amelia was charmed with her success. Despite the spot on her 

 nose, she felt she was winning. 



His lordship sat like a target, shot at by all, but making the 

 most of his time, both in the way of eating and staring between 

 questions. 



At length the ladies withdrew, and his lordship having waddled 

 to the door to assist their egress, now availed himself of Jawleyford's 

 invitation to occupy an arm-chair during the enjoyment of his 

 " Wintle." 



Whether it was the excellence of the beverage, or that his lord- 

 ship was unaccustomed to wine-drinking, or that Jawleyford's con- 

 versation was unusually agreeable, we know not, but the summons to 

 tea and coffee was disregarded, and when at length they did make 

 their appearance, his lordship was what the ladies call rather elevated, 

 and talked thicker than there was any occasion for. He was very 

 voluble at first — told all how Sponge had knocked him about, how 

 he detested him, and wouldn't allow him to come to the hunt ball, 

 &c. ; but he gradually died out, and at last fell asleep beside Mrs. 

 Jawleyford on the sofa, with his little legs crossed, and a half-emptied 

 coffee-cup in his hand, which Mr. Jawleyford and she kept anxiously 

 watching, expecting the contents to be over the fine satin furniture 

 every moment. 



In this pleasant position they remained till he awoke himself with 

 a hearty snore, and turned the coffee over on to the carpet. Fortu- 

 nately there was little damage done, and, it being nearly twelve o'clock, 

 his lordship waddled off to bed. 



Amelia, when she came to think matters over in the retirement 

 of her own room, was well satisfied with the progress she had made. 

 She thought she only wanted opportunity to capture him. Though 

 she was most anxious for a good night in order that she might appear 

 to advantage in the morning, sleep forsook her eyelids, and she lay 

 awake long thinking what she would do when she was my lady — how 

 she would warm Woodmansterne, and what a dashing equipage she 

 would keep. At length she dropped off, just as she thought she was 

 getting into her well-appointed chariot, showing a becoming portion 

 of her elegantly turned ankles. 



In the morning she attired herself in her new light satin blue 

 robe, corsage Albanaise, with a sort of three-quarter sleeves, and 

 muslin under ones — something, we believe, out of the last book of 

 fashion. She also had her hair uncommonly well arranged, and 

 sported a pair of clean primrose-coloured gloves. " Now for victory," 



