Fortune smiled on her boyish votary; and during the short time he was obliged to cultivate her favours, showered on him at least a sufficiency for support, or even for display. Crowded with fine people, and blazing with light, were the rooms of the Countess of B----, as, flushed from a late dinner at Saville’s, young Godolphin made his appearance in the scene. He was not of those numerous gentlemen, the stock-flowers of the parterre, who stick themselves up against walls in the panoply of neckclothed silence. He came not to balls from the vulgar motive of being seen there in the most conspicuous situation--a motive so apparent among the stiff exquisites of England. He came to amuse himself; and if he found no one capable of amusing him, he saw no necessity in staying. He was always seen, therefore, conversing or dancing, or listening to music--or he was not seen at all. In exchanging a few words with a Colonel D----, a noted roue and gamester, he observed, gazing on him very intently--and as Percy thought, very rudely--an old gentleman in a dress of the last century. Turn where he would, Godolphin could not rid himself of the gaze; so at length he met it with a look of equal scrutiny and courage. The old gentleman slowly approached. “Percy Godolphin, I think?” said he. “That is _my_ name, sir,” replied Percy. “Yours----” “No matter! Yet stay! you shall know it. I am Henry Johnstone--old Harry Johnstone. You have heard of him?--your father’s first cousin. Well, I grieve, young sir, to find that you associate with that rascal Saville--Nay, never interrupt me sir!--I grieve to find that you, thus young, thus unguarded, are left to be ruined in heart and corrupted in nature by any one who will take the trouble! Yet I like your countenance!--I like your countenance!--it is open, yet thoughtful; frank, and yet it has something of melancholy. You have not Charles’s coloured hair; but you are much younger--much. I am glad I have seen you; I came here on purpose; good-night!”--and without waiting for an answer, the old man disappeared. Godolphin, recovering from his surprise, recollected that he had often heard his father speak of a rich and eccentric relation named Johnstone. This singular interview made a strong but momentary impression on him. He intended to seek out the old man’s residence; but one thing or another drove away the fulfilment of the intention, and in this world the relations never met again. Percy, now musingly gliding through the crowd, sank into a seat beside a lady of forty-five, who sometimes amused herself in making love to him--because there could be no harm in such a mere boy!--and presently afterwards, a Lord George Somebody, sauntering up, asked the lady if he had not seen her at the play on the previous night. “O, yes! we went to see the new actress. How pretty she is!--so unaffected too;--how well she sings!”