Mr Primrose was surprised, as Peter hoped and designed, at the very learned air of the library, to say nothing of the numerous busts and casts which in the narrow entrance occupied that room which would have been much more usefully devoted to cloak-pegs. When they were seated in the library Mr Kipperson commenced his narrative, telling Mr Primrose what the reader is already acquainted with. But still the father of Penelope was not reconciled even to the attempt or proposal to make his daughter a public singer. Mr Kipperson however assured him, that nothing could be more respectable than the manner in which the Countess of Smatterton designed to bring out Miss Primrose. “I was present at an evening party,” said the agriculturist, “given by my friend the Countess of Smatterton, for the express purpose of introducing Miss Primrose to some of the best society in town. There were several persons of rank there, and among the rest the celebrated Duchess of Steeple Bumstead; and her Grace was quite enraptured with Miss Primrose.” “Well,” said the father of Penelope with some shortness and dryness of manner, “I don’t understand these matters. I have been so long out of England that I almost forget the customs of my native land; but I do not approve of this kind of association with persons of so much higher rank and fortune. The Countess of Smatterton cannot consider my daughter as an equal, and therefore she is tolerated for the amusement she can afford. I don’t like it, sir, I don’t like it. But, Mr Kipperson, can you tell me what kind of a man is Lord Spoonbill?” Mr Kipperson promptly replied: “A man of no intellect whatever.” “A fig for intellect,” replied Mr Primrose; “but is he a man of good character?” “Indeed sir,” responded the great agriculturist of Smatterton, “I am sorry to say he is not. The Earl himself is a very respectable man, so far as moral conduct is concerned, though he is a man of no mind; and he is a proud man, very distant and pompous, and quite an exclusive.” “An exclusive!” echoed Mr Primrose; “what is meant by an exclusive?” “By exclusive, sir, I mean that the Earl is not easily led to associate with those whom he considers of an inferior rank to himself; he is one of a set, as it were.” “Oh, is that all!” exclaimed Mr Primrose; “why at that rate all the world is exclusive. This is no new character though it may be a new name.” “Very true, indeed, very true, there has always been too much pride among persons of high rank.”