ll, and disreputable. You could not say what, but
there was a taint about the house and its entourages. Who was the Begum,
with her money, and without her h's, and where did she come from? What
an extraordinary little piece of conceit the daughter was, with her
Gallicised graces and daring affectations, not fit for well-bred English
girls to associate with! What strange people were those they assembled
round about them! Sir Francis Clavering was a gambler, living
notoriously in the society of blacklegs and profligates. Hely Clinker,
who was in his regiment, said that he not only cheated at cards, but
showed the white feather. What could Lady Rockminster have meant by
taking her up? After the first season, indeed, Lady Rockminster, who had
taken up Lady Clavering, put her down; the great ladies would not take
their daughters to her parties; the young men who attended them behaved
with the most odious freedom and scornful familiarity; and poor Lady
Clavering herself avowed that she was obliged to take what she called
'the canal' into her parlour, because the tip-tops wouldn't come."

She had not the slightest ill-will towards "the canal," the poor dear
lady, or any pride about herself, or idea, that she was better than her
neighbour; but she had taken implicitly the orders which on her entry
into the world her social godmother had given her: she had been willing
to know whom they knew, and ask whom they asked. The "canal," in fact,
was much pleasanter than what is called "society;" but, as we said
before, that to leave a mistress is easy, while, on the contrary, to be
left by her is cruel: so you may give up society without any great pang,
or anything but a sensation of relief at the parting; but severe are the
mortifications and pains you have if society gives up you.

One young man of fashion we have mentioned, who at least it might have
been expected would have been found faithful amongst the faithless, and
Harry Foker, Esq., was indeed that young man. But he had not managed
matters with prudence, and the unhappy passion at first confided to Pen
became notorious and ridiculous to the town, was carried to the ears of
his weak and fond mother; and finally brought under the cognisance of
the bald-headed and inflexible Foker senior.

When Mr. Foker learned this disagreeable news, there took place between
him and his son a violent and painful scene, which ended in the poor
little gentleman's banishment from England for a y