"Well, let me dispatch Lady Babbleton, and I'll then devote myself to being your nomenclator." We walked up to Lady Babbleton, who had already disposed of her daughters, and was sitting in solitary dignity at the end of the room. "My dear Lady Babbleton," cried Lady Harriett, taking both the hands of the dowager, "I am so glad to see you, and how well you are looking; and your charming daughters, how are they?--sweet girls!--and how long have you been here?" "We have only just come," replied the cidevant milliner, half rising and rustling her plumes in stately agitation, like a nervous parrot; "we must conform to modern ours, Lady Arriett, though for my part, I like the old- fashioned plan of dining early, and finishing one's gaieties before midnight; but I set the fashion of good ours as well as I can. I think it's a duty we owe to society, Lady Arriett, to encourage morality by our own example. What else do we have rank for?" And, so saying, the counter countess drew herself up with a most edifying air of moral dignity. Lady Harriett looked at me, and perceiving that my eye said "go on," as plain as eye could possibly speak, she continued--"Which of the wells do you attend, Lady Babbleton?" "All," replied the patronizing dowager. "I like to encourage the poor people here; I've no notion of being proud because one has a title, Lady Arriett." "No," rejoined the worthy helpmate of Sir Lionel Garrett; "every body talks of your condescension, Lady Babbleton; but are you not afraid of letting yourself down by going every where?" "Oh," answered the countess, "I admit very few into my set, at home, but I go out promiscuously;" and then, looking at me, she said, in a whisper, to Lady Harriett, "Who is that nice young gentleman?" "Mr. Pelham," replied Lady Harriett; and, turning to me, formally introduced us to each other. "Are you any relation (asked the dowager) to Lady Frances Pelham?" "Only her son," said I. "Dear me," replied Lady Babbleton, "how odd; what a nice elegant woman she is! She does not go much out, does she? I don't often meet her." "I should not think it likely that your ladyship did meet her much. She does not visit promiscuously." "Every rank has its duty," said Lady Harriett, gravely; "your mother, Mr. Pelham, may confine her circle as much as she pleases; but the high rank of Lady Babbleton requires greater condescension; just as the Dukes of Sussex and Gloucester go to many places where you and I would not." "Very true!" said the innocent dowager; "and that's a very sensible remark! Were you at Bath last winter, Mr. Pelham?" continued the countess, whose thoughts wandered from subject to subject in the most rudderless manner. "No, Lady Babbleton, I was unfortunately at a less distinguished place." "What was that?" "Paris!" "Oh, indeed! I've never been abroad; I don't think persons of a certain rank should leave England; they should stay at home and encourage their own manufactories."