d duellists.

CHAPTER XXXI

"The music, and the wine,
The garlands, the rose odours, and the flowers,
The sparkling eyes, and flashing ornaments,
The white arms, and the raven hair--the braids
And bracelets--swan-like bosoms, and the necklace,
An India in itself, yet dazzling not the eye
Like what it circled.

All the delusions of the gaudy scene,
Its false and true enchantments--all which
Swam before the giddy eyes."

~~403~~~
Dashall being wholly occupied by the unexpected affair noticed in our
last Chapter, had left his Cousin and friends to amuse themselves in
the best way they could, prior to the completion of the necessary
arrangements for quitting the metropolis. The party were undecided upon
what object to fix their choice, or how to bend their course; and
while warmly discussing the subject, were suddenly interrupted by the
appearance of Gayfield, who learning that Dashall was from home, and
upon what occasion, broke out with his usual volubility.

"Well, these affairs of honor certainly are imperious, and no doubt
ought to take precedence of every thing else. My object in calling was
chiefly to give him a description of the Countess of ------'s rout on
Saturday last, in Berkeley-square, where I intimated I should be, when
I last fell in with him. '_Oh Cielo Empireo_.' I'm enchanted yet,
positively enchanted! I ought to have Petrarch's pen to describe such
a scene and such dresses. Then should a robe of Tulle vie with that of
Laura at the church door--that dress of '_Vert parsemee de violets_.'
But softly, let us begin with the beginning, _Belier mon ami_. What a
galaxy of all the stars of fashion! It was a paradise of loveliness, fit
for Mahomet. All the beauties of the Georgian AEra were present. Those
real graces, their Graces of A------ and R------ were among the number.

~~404~~~ The Countess of L------ and Lady F------ O------ would make one
cry heresy when the poets limit us to a single Venus. And then the Lady
P------'s. Heaven keep us heart-whole when such stars rain their soft
influence upon us. As to the Countess of B------, with her diamond
tiara, and eyes brighter than her diamonds, she looked so goddess-like,
that I was tempted to turn heathenish and worship. Indeed, that bright
eyes should exert their brilliancy amid the dazzling brightness of our
fair and elegant hostess's rooms, is