she returns to her occupation, deploring her unlucky stars which placed
her in so laborious a situation--envies her cousin Sarah, who has
caught a minor in her net; nay even perhaps would be happy to exchange
circumstances with the thoughtless Miss Skipwell, who has run away with
her dancing-master, or ruined a young clergyman, of a serious turn, by
addressing love-letters to him, copied from the most romantic novels,
which have softened his heart into matrimony, and made genteel beggars
of the reverend mistress, himself, and a numerous offspring."

"Very agreeable, indeed," cried Dashall.

"Perhaps not," said Tallyho, interrupting him, "to the parties
described."

"You mistake me," was the reply; "I meant the combination of air and
exercise with the excellent descriptions of our friend Sparkle, who by
the way has not yet done with the subject."

"I am aware of it," continued Sparkle, "for there is one part which I
mentioned at the outset, which may with great propriety be added in the
way of elucidation--I mean Idleness: it is the third, and shall for
the present be the last subject of our consideration, and even this has
contributed its fair proportion of teachers to the world. Miss Mel ta
way, the daughter of a tallow-chandler, who ruined himself by dressing
extravagantly his wife, and over educating his dear Caroline Matilda,
in consequence of which he failed, and shortly afterwards left the world
altogether,--was brought up in the straw line; but this was no solid
trade, and could not be relied upon: however, she plays upon the harp
and the guitar. What advantages! yet she also failed in the straw-hat
line, and therefore Idleness prefers becoming an assistant teacher
and music mistress, to taking to any more laborious, even though more
productive mode of obtaining a livelihood.

~~367~~~ "Then Miss Nugent has a few hundred pounds, the remnant of
Pa's gleanings (Pa having been the retired butler of a Pigeoned Peer.) A
retail bookseller sought her hand in marriage, but she thought him
quite a vulgar fellow. He had no taste for waltzing, at which she was
considered to excel--he blamed her indulgence in such pleasures, and
ventured to hint something about a pudding. Then again, he can't speak
French, and dresses in dittoes. Now all this is really barbarous, and
consequently Miss Nugent spurns the idea of such a connection.

"Let us trace her still further. In a short time she is addressed by a
Captain Kirkpatri