The arrival of Miss Dundas at the Lodge was communicated to the two young men on their return from traversing half the country in quest of game. The news drew an oath from Shafto, but rather pleased Somerset, who augured some amusement from her attempts at wit and judgment. Tired to death, and dinner being over when they entered, with ravenous appetites they devoured their uncomfortable meal in a remote room; then throwing themselves along the sofas, yawned and slept for nearly two hours. Pembroke waking first, suddenly jumped on the floor, and shaking his disordered clothes, exclaimed, "Shafto! get up This is abominable! I cannot help thinking that if we spend one half of our days in pleasure and the other in lolling off its fatigues, we shall have passed through life more to our shame than our profit!" "Then you take the shame and leave me the profit," cried his companion, turning himself round: "so good-night to you!" Pembroke rang the bell. A servant entered. "What o'clock is it?" "Nine, sir." "Who are above?" "My lady, sir, and a large party of ladies." "There, now!" cried Shafto, yawning and kicking out his legs. "You surely won't go to be bored with such maudlin company?" "I choose to join your mother," replied Pembroke. "Are there any gentlemen, Stephen?" "One sir: Doctor Denton." "Off with you!" roared Shafto; "what do you stand jabbering there for? You won't let me sleep. Can't you send away the fellow, and go look yourself?" "I will, if you can persuade yourself to rise off that sofa and come with me." "May Lady Hecate catch me if I do! Get about your business, and leave me to mine." "You are incorrigible, Shafto," returned Pembroke, as he closed the door. He went up stairs to change his dress, and before he gained the second flight, he resolved not to spend another whole day in the company of such an ignorant, unmannerly cub. On Mr. Somerset's entrance into Lady Shafto's drawing-room, he saw many ladies, but only one gentleman, who was, the before-mentioned Dr. Denton--a poor, shallow-headed, parasitical animal. Pembroke having seen enough of him to despise his pretensions both to science and sincerity, returned his wide smirk and eager inquiries with a ceremonious bow, and took his seat by the side of the now delighted Miss Dundas. The vivid spirits of Diana, which she now strove to render peculiarly sparkling, entertained him. When compared with the insipid sameness of her ladyship, or the coarse ribaldry of her son, the mirth of Miss Dundas was wit and her remarks wisdom. "Dear Mr. Somerset!" cried she, "how good you are to break this sad solemnity. I vow, until you showed your face, I thought the days of paganism were revived, and that lacking men, we were assembled here to celebrate the mysteries of the _Bona Dea_." "Lacking men!" replied he, smiling; "you have over-looked the assiduous Doctor Denton?"