Stories may succeed, but they are doubtful, and not to be trusted, coming after cookery.

After an exciting subject which has made the general tongue to wag, and just enough heated the brain to cause it to cry out for spiced food--then start your story: taking care that it be mild; for one too marvellous stops the tide, the sense of climax being strongly implanted in all bosoms.

So the Countess told an anecdote--one of Mel's.

Mr.George Uplift was quite familiar with it, and knew of one passage that would have abashed him to relate 'before ladies.' The sylph-like ease with which the Countess floated over this foul abysm was miraculous.

Mr.
George screwed his eye-lids queerly, and closed his jaws with a report, completely beaten.