long since that, inspired by love or ambition,
a wealthy commoner sought the promise of the fair hand of
Lady J-, nor was the consent of her noble father (influenced
by certain weighty reasons*) wanting to complete the
anticipated happiness of the suitor.--All the preliminary
forms were arranged,--jointure and pin money liberally
fixed,--some legal objections as to a covenant of forfeiture
overcame, a suitable establishment provided. The happy day
was fixed, when--"mark inconstant fickle woman"--the evening
previous to completion (to the surprise of all the town),
she changed her mind; she had reconsidered the subject!--The
man was wealthy, and attractive in person; but then--
insupportable objection--he was a mere plebeian, a common
esquire, and his name was odious,--Lady J- B-1,--she could
never endure it: the degrading thought produced a fainting
fit,--the recovery a positive refusal,--the circumstance a
week's amusement to the fashionable world. Reflection and
disappointment succeeded, and a revival was more than once
spoken of; but the recent marriage of the bachelor put an
end to all conjecture, and the poor lady was for some time
left to bewail in secret her single destiny. Who can say,
when a lady has the golden ball at her foot, where she may
kick it? Circumstances which have occurred since the above
was written prove that the lady has anticipated our advice.

21 Her ladyship's crimson vis-a-vis and her tall footman
are both highly attractive--there are no seats in the
vehicle--the fair owner reclines on a splendid crimson velvet
divan or cushion. She must now be considered a beauty of the
last century, being already turned of fifty: still she
continued to flourish in the annals of--fashion, until
within the last few years; when she ceased to go abroad for
amusement, finding it more convenient to purchase it at
home. As her parties in Grosvenor-square are of the most
splendid description, and her dinners (where she is the
presiding deity, and the only one) are frequent, and
unrivalled for a display of the "savoir vivre," her ladyship
can always draw on the gratitude of her guests for that
homage to hospitality which she must cease to expect to her
charms, "now in the sear and yellow leaf:"--she is a M-nn-
rs-"verbum