“Put it anywhere but on my coach-box, and don’t bore me!” answered Lady Juliana, tossing over all the patterns, and humming a tune.

“What,” said her husband, “is that the leopard’s skin you were raving about last week, and your are tired of it before it has been used?”

“And no wonder.  Who do you think I saw in the Park yesterday but that old quiz Lady Denham, just come from the country, with her frightful old coach set off with a hammer-cloth precisely like the one I had ordered.  Only fancy people saying, Lady Denham sets the fashion for Lady Juliana Douglas!!  Oh, there’s confusion and despair in the thought!”

Confusion, at least, if not despair, was painted in Henry’s face as he saw the General’s glance directed alternately with contempt at Lady Juliana, and at himself, mingled with pity.  He continued to fidget about in all directions, while Lady Juliana talked nonsense to Mr. Shagg, and wondered if the General never meant to go away.  But he calmly kept his ground till the man was dismissed, and another introduced, loaded with china jars, monsters, and distorted teapots, for the capricious fair one’s choice and approbation.

“Beg ten thousand pardons, my Lady, for not calling yesterday, according to appointment—­quite an unforeseen impediment.  The Countess of Godolphin had somehow got private intelligence that I had a set of fresh commodities just cleared from the custom house, and well knowing such things are not long in hand, her La’ship came up from the country on purpose—­the Countess has so much taste!—­she drove straight to my warehouse, and kept me a close prisoner till after your La’ship’s hour; but I hope it may not be taken amiss, seeing that it is not a customary thing with us to be calling on customers, not to mention that this line of goods is not easily transported about.  However, I flatter myself the articles now brought for your Ladyship’s inspection will not be found beneath your notice.  Please to observe this choice piece—­it represents a Chinese cripple squat on the ground, with his legs crossed.  Your Ladyship may observe the head and chin advanced forwards, as in the act of begging.  The tea pours from the open mouth; and, till your Ladyship tries, you can have no idea of the elegant effect it produces.”

“That is really droll,” cried Lady Juliana, with a laugh of delight; “and I must have the dear sick beggar; he is so deliciously hideous.”

“And here,” continued Mr. Brittle, “is an amazing delicate article, in the way of a jewel—­a frog of Turkish agate for burning pastiles in, my Lady; just such as they use in the seraglio; and indeed this one I may call invaluable, for it was the favourite toy of one of the widowed Sultanas till she grew devout and gave up perfumes.  One of her slaves disposed of it to my foreign partner.  Here it opens at the tail, where you put in the pastiles, and closing it up, the vapour issues beautifully through the nostrils, eyes, ears, and mouth, all at once.  Here, sir,” turning to Douglas, “if you are curious in new workmanship, I would have you examine this.  I defy any jeweller in London to come up to the fineness of these hinges, and delicacy of the carving—–­”