Mr Zephaniah Pringle had a most exquisite conceit of his own superlative wisdom and penetration. This gentleman must have experienced therefore a sensation of great delight in taking his important self down to Smatterton to visit Mr Kipperson and surprise the natives. But how great must have been his astonishment, when introduced by Mr Kipperson at the rectory of Neverden, to find that Mr Darnley the elder had never heard of the name and fame of Zephaniah Pringle. He consoled himself, however, with the reflection, that many other names great as his own were equally unknown to this obscure village parson. Finding that the young ladies of Mr Darnley's family were addicted to reading, the critic kindly administered his gratuitous and unasked commentaries on divers modern and ancient authors. He astonished the daughters of the rector of Neverden by opinions hitherto unheard and unthought of. The confidence of his manner passed for wisdom and decided apprehension of the subjects on which he spoke; and as he took care to let it be thoroughly understood that all who differed from him were fools, and as literary young ladies do not like to be considered fools, they of course assented to Zephaniah Pringle's opinions on literary topics. In his conversation with Mr Darnley the younger he found that, by talking literature, he did not seem to magnify himself to his heart's content; for Robert Darnley did not believe that critics were conjurors. The genius then had recourse to talk concerning those persons of high style and dignity with whom he had the honor to be acquainted. Among other great names, he mentioned that of Lord Smatterton, and the scarcely less illustrious name of Lord Spoonbill. "You are acquainted then with Lord Spoonbill?" said Robert Darnley. "Oh yes, perfectly well," replied the critic. "And pray what kind of man is this Lord Spoonbill? for, though the family resides in the next village, I am totally unacquainted with them." "Lord Spoonbill himself is the best creature in the world. The Earl of Smatterton is a proud, haughty man, like the rest of the Whig aristocracy." "Then Lord Spoonbill is not so very proud?" "I cannot say that Lord Spoonbill is altogether without pride. He has very high notions; but his manner is not pompous like his father's. And he can be very agreeable, though he is by no means a man of any great share of intellect." "I have heard him spoken of," replied Robert Darnley, "as being a very profligate man." "I believe," said the critic, "he is rather gay, but not more so than most young men of his rank. The finest joke in the world is, that his father, the Earl of Smatterton, thinks that he is one of the gravest and steadiest young men of the age, and quotes him as such accordingly. But the fact is, that his lordship has lately taken under his protection a lady, now received at Lord Smatterton's table."