and curl our hair with Debrett's Peerage."

We all laughed at this speech, the truth of which we readily
acknowledged.

"Nothing," said Lady Dawton, "amuses me more, than to see the great
distinction novel writers make between the titled and the untitled; they
seem to be perfectly unaware, that a commoner, of ancient family and
large fortune, is very often of far more real rank and estimation, and
even weight, in what they are pleased to term fashion, than many of
the members of the Upper House. And what amuses me as much, is the no
distinction they make between all people who have titles--Lord A--,
the little baron, is exactly the same as Lord Z--, the great marquess,
equally haughty and equally important.

"Mais, mon Dieu," said a little French count, who had just joined
us; "how is it that you can expect to find a description of society
entertaining, when the society itself is so dull?--the closer the copy
the more tiresome it must be. Your manner, pour vous amuser, consists in
standing on a crowded staircase, and complaining that you are terribly
bored. L'on s'accoutume difficilement a une vie qui se passe sur
l'escalier."

"It is very true," said Clarendon, "we cannot defend ourselves. We are
a very sensible, thinking, brave, sagacious, generous, industrious,
noble-minded people; but it must be confessed, that we are terrible
bores to ourselves and all the rest of the world. Lady Paulet, if you
are going so soon, honour me by accepting my arm."

"You should say your hand," said the Frenchman.

"Pardon me," answered the gallant old beau; "I say, with your brave
countryman when he lost his legs in battle, and was asked by a lady,
like the one who now leans on me, whether he would not sooner have lost
his arms? 'No, Madam,' said he, (and this, Monsieur le Comte, is the
answer I give to your rebuke) 'I want my hands to guard my heart.'"

Finding our little knot was now broken up, I went into another part
of the room, and joined Vincent, Lady Roseville, Ellen, and one or two
other persons who were assembled round a table covered with books and
prints. Ellen was sitting on one side of Lady Roseville; there was a
vacant chair next her, but I avoided it, and seated myself on the other
side of Lady Roseville.

"Pray, Miss Glanville," said Lord Vincent, taking up a thin volume, "do
you greatly admire the poems of this lady?"

"What, Mrs. Hemans?" answered Ellen. "I am more enchanted with her
poetry than I can exp