uestions of the day discussed;
and my dear father often said that it was our duty to encourage
literature, and he had hoped to see the late Dr. Johnson at Drummington,
only Dr. Johnson died. Yes, and Mr. Sheridan came over, and drank a
great deal of wine,--everybody drank a great deal of wine in those
days,--and papa's wine-merchant's bill was ten times as much as Erith's
is, who gets it as he wants it from Fortnum and Mason's and doesn't keep
any stock at all."

"That was an uncommon good dinner we had yesterday, ma'am," the artful
Harry broke out. "Their clear soup's better than ours. Moufflet will
put too much taragon into everything. The supreme de volaille was very
good--uncommon, and the sweets were better than Moufflet's sweets. Did
you taste the plombiere, ma'am, and the maraschino jelly? Stunningly
good that maraschino jelly!"

Lady Agnes expressed her agreement in these, as in almost all other
sentiments of her son, who continued the artful conversation, saying--

"Very handsome house that of the Claverings. Furniture, I should say,
got up regardless of expense. Magnificent display of plate, ma'am." The
lady assented to all these propositions.

"Very nice people the Claverings."

"H'm!" said Lady Agnes.

"I know what you mean. Lady C. ain't distangy exactly, but she is very
good-natured."

"Oh, very," mamma said, who was herself one of the most good-natured of
women.

"And Sir Francis, he don't talk much before ladies; but after dinner he
comes out uncommon strong, ma'am--a highly agreeable, well-informed man.
When will you ask them to dinner? Look out for an early day, ma'am;" and
looking into Lady Agnes's pocket-book, he chose a day only a fortnight
hence (an age that fortnight seemed to the young gentleman), when the
Claverings were to be invited to Grosvenor-street.

The obedient Lady Agnes wrote the required invitation. She was
accustomed to do so without consulting her husband, who had his own
society and habits, and who left his wife to see her own friends alone.
Harry looked at the card; but there was an omission in the invitation
which did not please him.

"You have not asked Miss Whatdyecallem--Miss Emery, Lady Clavering's
daughter."

"Oh, that little creature!" Lady Agnes cried. "No! I think not, Harry."

"We must ask Miss Amory," Foker said. "I--I want to ask Pendennis;
and--and he's very sweet upon her. Don't you think she sings very well,
ma'am?"

"I thought her rather forward,