where it could be, or
wherein it consisted. Thus ended the conference. Mr. Grenville squeezed
me by the hand again, kissed the ladies, and withdrew. He kissed
likewise the maid in the kitchen, and seemed upon the whole a most
loving, kissing, kind-hearted gentleman. He is very young, genteel, and
handsome. He has a pair of very good eyes in his head, which not being
sufficient, as it should seem, for the many nice and difficult purposes
of a senator, he has a third also, which he suspended from his
buttonhole. The boys halloo'd, the dogs barked, puss scampered, the
hero, with his long train of obsequious followers, withdrew. We made
ourselves very merry with the adventure, and in a short time settled
into our former tranquillity, never probably to be thus interrupted
more. I thought myself, however, happy in being able to affirm truly
that I had not that influence for which he sued; and which, had I been
possessed of it, with my present views of the dispute between the Crown
and the Commons, I must have refused him, for he is on the side of the
former. It is comfortable to be of no consequence in a world where one
cannot exercise any without disobliging somebody. The town, however,
seems to be much at his service, and if he be equally successful
throughout the country, he will undoubtedly gain his election. Mr.
Ashburner, perhaps, was a little mortified, because it was evident I
owed the honor of this visit to his misrepresentation of my importance.
But had he thought proper to assure Mr. Grenville that I had three
heads, I should not, I suppose, have been bound to produce them....

* * * * *

_Now stir the fire, and close the shutters fast,
Let fall the curtains, wheel the sofa round,
And while the bubbling and loud hissing urn
Throws up a steamy column, and the cups
That cheer but not inebriate wait on each,
So let us welcome peaceful evening in._

COWPER.--_The Winter Evening_.

XXVII. FROM "THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL."[G]

RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN.--1751-1816.

SCENE.--_A Room in_ SIR PETER TEAZLE'S _House._

_Enter_ SIR PETER TEAZLE.

_Sir Pet._ When an old bachelor marries a young wife, what is he to
expect? 'Tis now six months since Lady Teazle made me the happiest of
men--and I have been the most miserable dog ever since. We tiffed a
little going to church, and fairly quarrelled before the bells had done
ringing. I was more than on