somewhat loose of speech and gait. A little after six, however, there
came round the corner of the gardens a very handsome and elegantly
dressed young woman, who paused a little way off, and for some time, and
with frequent sighs, contemplated the front of the Superfluous Mansion.
It was not the first time that she had thus stood afar and looked upon
it, like our common parents at the gates of Eden; and the young man had
already had occasion to remark the lively slimness of her carriage, and
had already been the butt of a chance arrow from her eye. He hailed her
coming, then, with pleasant feelings, and moved a little nearer to the
window to enjoy the sight. What was his surprise, however, when, as if
with a sensible effort, she drew near, mounted the steps, and tapped
discreetly at the door! He made haste to get before the Irish nurse, who
was not improbably asleep, and had the satisfaction to receive this
gracious visitor in person.

She inquired for Mr. Jones; and then, without transition, asked the
young man if he were the person of the house (and at the words, he
thought he could perceive her to be smiling), "because," she added, "if
you are, I should like to see some of the other rooms."

Somerset told her he was under an engagement to receive no other
lodgers; but she assured him that would be no matter, as these were
friends of Mr. Jones's. "And," she continued, moving suddenly to the
dining-room door, "let us begin here." Somerset was too late to prevent
her entering, and perhaps lacked the courage to essay. "Ah!" she cried,
"how changed it is!"

"Madam," cried the young man, "since your entrance, it is I who have the
right to say so."

She received this inane compliment with a demure and conscious droop of
the eyelids, and gracefully steering her dress among the mingled
litter, now with a smile, now with a sigh, reviewed the wonders of the
two apartments. She gazed upon the cartoons with sparkling eyes, and a
heightened colour, and, in a somewhat breathless voice, expressed a high
opinion of their merits. She praised the effective disposition of the
rockery, and in the bedroom, of which Somerset had vainly endeavoured to
defend the entry, she fairly broke forth in admiration. "How simple and
manly!" she cried: "none of that effeminacy of neatness, which is so
detestable in a man!" Hard upon this, telling him, before he had time to
reply, that she very well knew her way, and would trouble him no
further, s