slightly compressed the tips of Titmouse's fingers, and bowed courteously, but with infinite concern in his features. "I am happy, Mr. Titmouse, to make your acquaintance," said the earl, slowly--"Sir, I have the honor to present you to my daughter, the Lady Cecilia." Titmouse, who by this time had got into a sort of cold sweat--a condition from which the earl was really not _very_ far removed--made a very profound and formal bow, (he had been taking lessons from a posture-master to one of the theatres,) first to the earl, and then to Lady Cecilia, who rose about two inches from the sofa, with an almost audible sigh, and then sank again upon it, without removing her eyes from the figure of Titmouse, who went on bowing, first to the one and then to the other, till the earl had engaged him in conversation. "It gives me pleasure, sir, to see that you are punctual in your engagements. I am so too, sir; and owe to it no small portion of any success which I may have had in life. Punctuality, sir, in small matters, leads to punctuality in great matters." This was said very deliberately, and with a sort of freezing grandeur. "Oh yes, my Lord! quite so, your Lordship," stammered Titmouse, suddenly recollecting a part of Gammon's instructions; "to be sure--wouldn't have been behind time, your Lordship, for a minute, my Lord; uncommon bad manners, if it please your Lordship"---- "Will you be seated, sir?" interrupted the earl, dignifiedly motioning him to a chair, and then sitting down beside him; after which his Lordship seemed, for a second or two, to forget himself; staring in silence at Titmouse, and then in consternation at Lady Cecilia. "I--I--" said he, suddenly recollecting himself, "beg your par--sir, I mean--I congratulate you upon--your recent success. Sir, it must have been rather a surprise to you?" "Oh yes, sir--my Lord, most uncommon, may it please your Lordship--particular--but _right is right_--please your Lordship"---- ["Oh Heavens! merciful Heavens! How horrid is all this! Am I awake or only dreaming? 'Tis an idiot--and what's worse, a vulgar idiot! _And this thing may become Lord Drelincourt!_" This was what was passing through Lord Dreddlington's mind, while his troubled eye was fixed upon Titmouse.]