--which, by-the-bye, is not saying much for them.
Having sent in their cards, through the medium of a red-hot looking
footman in bright livery, they were ushered into the august presence of
the profound Dingwall.

Cornelius Brook Dingwall, Esq., M.P., was very haughty, solemn, and
portentous. He had, naturally, a somewhat spasmodic expression of
countenance, which was not rendered the less remarkable by his wearing an
extremely stiff cravat. He was wonderfully proud of the M.P. attached to
his name, and never lost an opportunity of reminding people of his
dignity. He had a great idea of his own abilities, which must have been
a great comfort to him, as no one else had; and in diplomacy, on a small
scale, in his own family arrangements, he considered himself unrivalled.
He was a county magistrate, and discharged the duties of his station with
all due justice and impartiality; frequently committing poachers, and
occasionally committing himself. Miss Brook Dingwall was one of that
numerous class of young ladies, who, like adverbs, may be known by their
answering to a commonplace question, and doing nothing else.

On the present occasion, this talented individual was seated in a small
library at a table covered with papers, doing nothing, but trying to look
busy, playing at shop. Acts of Parliament, and letters directed to
'Cornelius Brook Dingwall, Esq., M.P.,' were ostentatiously scattered
over the table; at a little distance from which, Mrs. Brook Dingwall was
seated at work. One of those public nuisances, a spoiled child, was
playing about the room, dressed after the most approved fashion--in a
blue tunic with a black belt--a quarter of a yard wide, fastened with an
immense buckle--looking like a robber in a melodrama, seen through a
diminishing glass.

After a little pleasantry from the sweet child, who amused himself by
running away with Miss Maria Crumpton's chair as fast as it was placed
for her, the visitors were seated, and Cornelius Brook Dingwall, Esq.,
opened the conversation.

He had sent for Miss Crumpton, he said, in consequence of the high
character he had received of her establishment from his friend, Sir
Alfred Muggs.

Miss Crumpton murmured her acknowledgments to him (Muggs), and Cornelius
proceeded.

'One of my principal reasons, Miss Crumpton, for parting with my
daughter, is, that she has lately acquired some sentimental ideas, which
it is most desirable to eradicate from her young mind.'