‘How d’ye do?’ said her ladyship, with an arch smile, ’I really could not expect to see you!’

Cadurcis looked a little confused; he detested scenes, and now he dreaded one.

‘You seem quite distrait,’ continued Lady Monteagle, after a moment’s pause, which his lordship ought to have broken.  ’But no wonder, if the world be right.’

‘The world cannot be wrong,’ said Cadurcis sarcastically.

‘Had you a pleasant party yesterday?’

‘Very.’

‘Lady ——­ must have been quite charmed to have you at last,’ said Lady Monteagle.  ’I suppose she exhibited you to all her friends, as if you were one of the savages that went to Court the other day.’

‘She was courteous.’

’Oh!  I can fancy her flutter!  For my part, if there be one character in the world more odious than another, I think it is a fussy woman.  Lady ——­, with Lord Cadurcis dining with her, and the new beauty for a niece, must have been in a most delectable state of bustle.’

‘I thought she was rather quiet,’ said her companion with provoking indifference.  ‘She seemed to me an agreeable person.’

‘I suppose you mean Miss Herbert?’ said Lady Monteagle.

’Oh! these are moderate expressions to use in reference to a person like Miss Herbert.’

‘You know what they said of you two at Ranelagh?’ said her ladyship.

‘No,’ said Lord Cadurcis, somewhat changing colour, and speaking through his teeth; ‘something devilish pleasant, I dare say.’

‘They call you Sedition and Treason,’ said Lady Monteagle.

‘Then we are well suited,’ said Lord Cadurcis.

‘She certainly is a beautiful creature,’ said her ladyship.

‘I think so,’ said Lord Cadurcis.

‘Rather too tall, I think.’

‘Do you?’

‘Beautiful complexion certainly; wants delicacy, I think.’

‘Do you?’

’Fine eyes!  Grey, I believe.  Cannot say I admire grey eyes.  Certain sign of bad temper, I believe, grey eyes?’

‘Are they?’

’I did not observe her hand.  I dare say a little coarse.  Fair people who are tall generally fail in the hand and arm.  What sort of a hand and arm has she?’

‘I did not observe anything coarse about Miss Herbert.’

’Ah! you admire her.  And you have cause.  No one can deny she is a fine girl, and every one must regret, that with her decidedly provincial air and want of style altogether, which might naturally be expected, considering the rustic way I understand she has been brought up (an old house in the country, with a methodistical mother), that she should have fallen into such hands as her aunt.  Lady ——­ is enough to spoil any girl’s fortune in London.’

‘I thought that the ——­ were people of high consideration,’ said Lord Cadurcis.