"It is your Ladyship's deal;" so that it was much dreaded that he was a candidate for St. Luke's. He recovered, however, this fashionfever, and his parties continued with much spirit, and were always very numerously attended; for the tasteful firm of Lady Caro and partner had thus an opportunity, not only of entertaining their circle gratis, and without trouble, at their banker's, but they could also invite people there whom they might not have invited at home. What a scope of patronage this gave her Ladyship; and what fun this was to the good Lord! The banker, all the time, however, was not without anxieties and fatigues ; anxieties as to many things going off well, and great fatigue in being introduced to, and in seeming acquainted with, the friends of those who held his proxy. In this embarrassment the ladies had their share: they were most eager to be known to Graces, Most Nobles, Right Honourables, and to Baronets' Ladies; and, however mortifying it might be to them, it not unfre

quently happened, that their guests passed them by with nodding plumes and distant looks, and never took the least notice of them. These were not the only slights; remarks and conversations were overheard, by no means flattering to those who had put themselves to great expense for persons who took not the least interest in them, and never made any return for their attentions. Some even cut them the next day,overlooked them at the Opera, or made a half acknowledgment in the Park; whilst the banker and domestic company were straining their necks to an agony, lest they should pass by any great person who had been at their party.

Nothing could equal the ease and the elegance, the unceremonious and dégagé style of the titled proxies. "Oh! Colonel, by the by," would say his Lordship, "will you come to a négociant's party to-night? All our friends will be there. The supper will be admirable, for I took care to order it myself, and the man will be most proud to receive you. Here, if you

like, you may have half-a-dozen cards of invitation for yourself and friends." Then Lady Caro would stop a party of beaux with, "I want you to come to a man's parties which I patronize; he is a banker, but a very civil fellow; I order every thing my own way there, and I will invite whom you like to meet you." Here a Guardsman would attract her Ladyship's eye, and make a great favour of coming to the bourgeois' party. "I don't know the man, but I'll go to oblige you," would he say. Then she would beckon a Lancer, and invite him as if to her own party; or she would engage a Tenth Hussar (i. e. one of the Tenth Hussars) to dance with some friend of hers, who would deign to accept the invite (as it is sometimes sillily called) under conditions. "Well, if I must, I must, but it's à condition that you will not expect me to hold conversation with the she banker, nor put me at table near the family; not expect me to dance with any city people, nor to be bored with Monsieur.

Pray could not I go there without knowing the man at all? And I say, will you vouch for the quality of the fellow's wines? for I was poisoned with a glass of spurious Tokay at a Knight's trumpery turn-out last week, and I swore that I never would go to half-fashionables any more; but this once, if you like, I shall quite consider myself your guest."

These little scenes, so flattering to a man entertaining politely and extravagantly, were very common: nay, even (so hard is the fate of those who give parties by proxy) in the very interior of the place of expense, the greatest indifference was manifested towards the party entertaining.

"Whose stranger are you, Sir George ?" said Colonel Manly to his friend.

"Lady Caro's."

"And do you know the homo who gives the party ?"

"Not I, unless it be the little mean-looking man near the door.”

"Oh! that's not him; he is a better-looking article of commerce than that. I know him by sight, but have not spoken to him yet. I suppose I must by and by, for form's sake."

"Let me tell you," interrupted a third, "that he is a very decent fellow: I shall patronize him all the season; his suppers are first-rate affairs, and he is not in the least troublesome. If he sees his house full of fashion, he is contented; and we all do what we please, and bring whom we choose. I myself am one of Lord -'s invitation, and I have brought two more sans façon."

Little aware of this, the weak ambitious man, overpowered by the Peerage, the name of every Earl, Countess, Viscountess, Baron, and Right Honourable Lady echoing in his ear, was grateful to humiliation to his titled proxies, who thus took the trouble of inviting for him, and of dictating to him what he ought to do, and whom he ought to welcome to his house: and upon one particular occasion he came up to his directing patron, and humbly said, "My Lord, I am truly indebted to you for the assemblage