Sparkins attitudinised with admirable effect, until the
family had crossed the room. He then started up, with the most natural
appearance of surprise and delight; accosted Mrs. Malderton with the
utmost cordiality; saluted the young ladies in the most enchanting
manner; bowed to, and shook hands with Mr. Malderton, with a degree of
respect amounting almost to veneration; and returned the greetings of the
two young men in a half-gratified, half-patronising manner, which fully
convinced them that he must be an important, and, at the same time,
condescending personage.

'Miss Malderton,' said Horatio, after the ordinary salutations, and
bowing very low, 'may I be permitted to presume to hope that you will
allow me to have the pleasure--'

'I don't _think_ I am engaged,' said Miss Teresa, with a dreadful
affectation of indifference--'but, really--so many--'

Horatio looked handsomely miserable.

'I shall be most happy,' simpered the interesting Teresa, at last.
Horatio's countenance brightened up, like an old hat in a shower of rain.

'A very genteel young man, certainly!' said the gratified Mr. Malderton,
as the obsequious Sparkins and his partner joined the quadrille which was
just forming.

'He has a remarkably good address,' said Mr. Frederick.

'Yes, he is a prime fellow,' interposed Tom, who always managed to put
his foot in it--'he talks just like an auctioneer.'

'Tom!' said his father solemnly, 'I think I desired you, before, not to
be a fool.' Tom looked as happy as a cock on a drizzly morning.

'How delightful!' said the interesting Horatio to his partner, as they
promenaded the room at the conclusion of the set--'how delightful, how
refreshing it is, to retire from the cloudy storms, the vicissitudes, and
the troubles, of life, even if it be but for a few short fleeting
moments: and to spend those moments, fading and evanescent though they
be, in the delightful, the blessed society of one individual--whose
frowns would be death, whose coldness would be madness, whose falsehood
would be ruin, whose constancy would be bliss; the possession of whose
affection would be the brightest and best reward that Heaven could bestow
on man?'

'What feeling! what sentiment!' thought Miss Teresa, as she leaned more
heavily on her companion's arm.

'But enough--enough!' resumed the elegant Sparkins, with a theatrical
air. 'What have I said? what have I--I--to do with sentiments like
these! Miss Malderton'--here