ng
propensities were known, used to watch, carefully, her
manoeuvres, let her walk off with the spoil, and then send a
bill of depredation, which she uniformly, and without
hesitation, dis-charged. This unfortunate woman was one
morning detected in the shop of a Mercer to whom she was a
stranger, in the act of pilfering some article of value. He
was about to detain her, when she burst into an agony of
tears, acknowledged, and lamented deeply, the irresistible
infatuation under which she acted, disclosed her rank and
family, and the compassionate mercer suffered her to depart.

At another time, being one of a card-party, a gold snuff-box
vanished from the table. Every person present denied any
knowledge of it;--"Madam, you are mistaken," said one of the
company, "you have got the snuff-box in your pocket."--"How
very _absent_ I am!"exclaimed our heroine, producing the
box.--"And I beg that you will continue absent!" said the
lady of the mansion.

~139~~ "Sir Felix O'Grady, Madam," answered Dashall, "an Irish baronet,
of recent acquaintance; like every other gentleman of the Emerald Isle,
combining, with characteristic eccentricity, a sound head and a warm
heart."

"Then, of all things, bring him with you." "So," waving gracefully her
hand, "adieu!" the trio responded, by respectfully raising their hats,
"_Allons donc_," she exclaimed, and the carriage drove off.

"There go," exclaimed Dashall, "two of the most lovely and accomplished
women in London, and perhaps the least tinctured with fashionable
folly."

"With the exception," observed the Squire, "of shopping, that is, I
presume, making the morning tour of tradesmen's shops, tumbling over
their goods, giving them every possible trouble, and ultimately making
no purchase."{1}

Dashall admitted the correctness of the Squire's observation, as
generally applicable, but claimed an exemption for the ladies in
question.

On the left, proceeding down Chancery Lane, Dashall pointed to a
respectable house as the occasional residence of a lady in the first
class of literature, whose writings have given universal satisfaction,
and will continue to be read with increased avidity, as conveying the
most admirable lessons of morality, told in a manner alike impressive
and pathetic;--Mrs. Op*e; the widow of the late celebrated artist. This
excellent woman is endeared to the circle of her nu