Have you aught else to say, Morton ?" "Yes!" said I, suppressing my emotions, "yes, Mother! do bestow on me one warm wish, one kind word, before we part: see,--I kneel for your blessing,--will you not give it me ?" "Bless you, my child,--bless you! look you now; I have dropped my needle!" I rose hastily, bowed profoundly (my mother returned the courtesy with the grace peculiar to herself), and withdrew.

I hurried into the great drawing-room, found Lady Needleham alone, rushed out in despair, encountered the Lady Hasselton, and coquetted with her the rest of the evening.

Vain hope! to forget one's real feelings by pretending those one never felt! The next morning, then, after suitable adieux to all (Gerald excepted) whom I left behind; after some tears too from my uncle, which, had it not been for the presence of the Lady Hasselton, I could have returned with interest; and after a long caress to his dog Ponto, which now, in parting with that dear old man, seemed to me as dog never seemed before, I hurried into the Beauty's carriage, bade farewell forever to the Rubicon of Life, and commenced my career of manhood and citizenship by learning, under the tuition of the prettiest coquette of her time, the dignified duties of a Court Gallant and a Town Beau..