“During the whole of the comedy she racked her brains so to remember his name that she did not hear a word of the piece:  and having the happiness to meet him once more in the lobby of the playhouse, she went up to him in a flutter, and bade him remember that she kept two nights in the week, and that she longed to see him at Spring Garden.

“He appeared on Tuesday, in a rich suit, showing a very fine taste both in the tailor and wearer; and though a knot of us were gathered round the charming Jocasta, fellows who pretended to know every face upon the town, not one could tell the gentleman’s name in reply to Jocasta’s eager inquiries, flung to the right and left of her as he advanced up the room with a bow that would become a duke.

“Jocasta acknowledged this salute with one of those smiles and curtsies of which that lady hath the secret.  She curtsies with a languishing air, as if to say, ‘You are come at last.  I have been pining for you:’  and then she finishes her victim with a killing look, which declares:  ’O Philander!  I have no eyes but for you.’  Camilla hath as good a curtsy perhaps, and Thalestris much such another look; but the glance and the curtsy together belong to Jocasta of all the English beauties alone.

“‘Welcome to London, sir,’ says she.  ’One can see you are from the country by your looks.’  She would have said ‘Epsom,’ or ‘Tunbridge,’ had she remembered rightly at which place she had met the stranger; but, alas! she had forgotten.

“The gentleman said, ’he had been in town but three days; and one of his reasons for coming hither was to have the honor of paying his court to Jocasta.’

“She said, ‘the waters had agreed with her but indifferently.’

“‘The waters were for the sick,’ the gentleman said:  ’the young and beautiful came but to make them sparkle.  And as the clergyman read the service on Sunday,’ he added, ’your ladyship reminded me of the angel that visited the pool.’  A murmur of approbation saluted this sally.  Manilio, who is a wit when he is not at cards, was in such a rage that he revoked when he heard it.

“Jocasta was an angel visiting the waters; but at which of the Bethesdas?  She was puzzled more and more; and, as her way always is, looked the more innocent and simple, the more artful her intentions were.

“‘We were discoursing,’ says she, ’about spelling of names and words when you came.  Why should we say goold and write gold, and call china chayney, and Cavendish Candish, and Cholmondeley Chumley?  If we call Pulteney Poltney, why shouldn’t we call poultry pultry—­and—­’

“‘Such an enchantress as your ladyship,’ says he, ’is mistress of all sorts of spells.’  But this was Dr. Swift’s pun, and we all knew it.

“‘And—­and how do you spell your name?’ says she, coming to the point at length; for this sprightly conversation had lasted much longer than is here set down, and been carried on through at least three dishes of tea.