Thus armed, he boldly confronted the virago, and interposing a _remora_, which was able to check poor Nelly's course in her most determined moods, not only succeeded in averting the immediate storm which approached the company in general, and Mr.Winterblossom in particular, but brought the guests the satisfactory information, that Trotting Nelly had agreed, after she had slept out her nap in the barn, to convey their commands to the Unknown of Cleikum of Aultoun.
Mr.Winterblossom, therefore, having authenticated his proceedings, by inserting in the Minutes of the Committee, the authority which he had received, wrote his card in the best style of diplomacy, and sealed it with the seal of the Spa, which bore something like a nymph, seated beside what was designed to represent an urn.
The rival factions, however, did not trust entirely to this official invitation.

Lady Penelope was of opinion that they should find some way of letting the stranger--a man of talent unquestionably--understand that there were in the society to which he was invited, spirits of a more select sort, who felt worthy to intrude themselves on his solitude.
Accordingly, her ladyship imposed upon the elegant Mr.Chatterly the task of expressing the desire of the company to see the unknown artist, in a neat occasional copy of verses.

The poor gentleman's muse, however, proved unpropitious; for he was able to proceed no farther than two lines in half an hour, which, coupled with its variations, we insert from the blotted manuscript, as Dr.Johnson has printed the alterations in Pope's version of the Iliad: 1.

_Maids._ 2.

_Dames._ unity joining.
The [nymphs] of St.Ronan's [in purpose combining] 1.