Being upon reflection convinced of the meanness and littleness of those pursuits in which he had been engaged, and finding that there was not in his honors that enjoyment and satisfaction which he had anticipated from them, he seriously resolved that he would no longer expose himself to those mortifications which had of late gathered so thick upon him. He made up his mind that he would give up his establishment in town; that he would dispose of his horses, and retire to Trimmerstone, to enjoy, if possible, the quiet comforts of domestic life. But when he thought of domestic life, he could not help also thinking how ill-adapted was his Countess for a life of that description. He had taken but little notice of her or her proceedings, and often, while he had been spending the night at the hazard-table, her rooms had been lighted up for the reception and entertainment of such guests as she could procure. In a large party, and in the display of finery, the Countess had her happiness. The proposal therefore to her of removal from town and of quiet domestic life in the country, especially such a dull place as Trimmerstone, came very mournfully to her ears, and she would fain have expostulated and demurred. But his lordship, now he had grown wiser, had become rather sulky and obstinate; that good-humor for which he had formerly been remarkable was considerably abated; and his Countess perceived the change with a feeling of concern and uneasiness. The Countess, as our readers may probably have discovered, was a thoughtless, unreflecting, though good-humored woman; very fond was she of gaiety, mistaking, as many vulgar fine folks do, gaiety for greatness, and fancying that the most magnificent entertainments were the chief good of life. Her ladyship’s taste was rather more vulgar than usually happens in that class of society from whence she had her origin; and as the exclusives were not well pleased with her birth, they could easily apologise for their neglect of her on account of her manners. In spite, however, of all the indifference of what is called the fashionable world, she contrived to live a life of no little gaiety. Such companions and intimates as she honored with her acquaintance were not the best adapted to prepare her mind for retirement. Mr. Tippetson, so far as reflection or intellectual digestion was concerned, had not a single idea in his head. He had by no means any capacity either for thinking or exciting thought in others; but in common-place he was perfect.