The mistress of the house is described as making "uphill attempts at conversation" pending the arrival of a sufficient number of guests to make up a quadrille. Two old ladies, however, have already put in an appearance, and have taken possession of the best seats to "see the dancing," from which all attempts to move them to the card-room are successfully resisted. There they sit, poor old wallflowers! with all the advantage that "false hair and turbans" can give them. Though the execution of this drawing lacks the perfection of workmanship of Leech's later manner, he never surpassed it in expression and character. The music "strikes up," the lady of the house throws a comprehensive _coup d'oeil_ over her assembled visitors, and at last pitches upon a tall young man--_whom some of you may have met before_--with short hair, spectacles, and turned-up wristbands, as if he was about to wash his hands with his coat on. His fate is sealed, and she advances towards him, blandly exclaiming: [Illustration: "WALLFLOWERS."] "_Mr. Ledbury_, allow me to introduce you to a partner." My own readers have heard of Mr. Ledbury; but as I think they are unacquainted with his personal appearance, I propose to introduce him to them, and here he is-- [Illustration: "MR. LEDBURY."] Mr. Ledbury is "presented to a bouquet with a young lady attached to it"--a Miss Hamilton--who freezes him completely. A quadrille is formed. Mr. Ledbury cudgels his brains for five minutes. The young partner seems to be "searching after some imaginary object amongst the petals of her bouquet." The mountainous Ledbury brain is in labour. Behold the production! "MR. L. 'Have you been to many parties this season?' "MISS H. 'Not a great many.' Miss Hamilton continues the bouquet investigation. The gentleman invents another sentence. "MR. L. 'What do you think of Alfred Tennyson?' "MISS H. 'I am sorry to say I have not heard his poetry. Have you?' [Illustration: "MR. LEDBURY AND MISS HAMILTON."] "MR. L. 'Oh yes! several times." Mr. Ledbury waits to be asked about "Mariana" and "Locksley Hall." No inquiry, so he "rubs up an idea upon another tack": "MR. L. 'What do you think of our _vis-à-vis_?' "MISS H. 'Which one?' "MR. L. 'The lady with that strange head-dress. Do you know her?' "MISS H. 'It is Miss Brown--my cousin.'" Mr. Ledbury wishes he could fall through a trap in the floor. The quadrille continues, with occasional attempts on the part of the brilliant couple to make conversation. The acme of imbecility seems to be reached when the lady asks if Mr. L. plays any instrument? He replies that he plays the flute a little. Does she admire it? "Oh, so very much!" she says.