"Well, my dear Lady Baskerville, as _you are_ asked, do you not think you could get us invited also? You know I hardly ever break my rule of running the risk of compromising a friend by tormenting her to procure invitations, but for this once I think I may venture, considering our long friendship, to entrust you with the secret (for you know I would not have it said for the world), that I wish to be of the number of the _Priées_ to Restormel--now as I intend giving my first ball immediately after Easter, I shall consult her to-night about certain persons whom I am rather doubtful whether I shall ask or not, and then by appealing to you, throw the conversation into your hands, and give you an opportunity of naming those who are invited to Restormel, which will bring about the subject in such a natural way, that either I must be asked or she will commit herself by a rudeness which she generally avoids." Lady Baskerville sat on thorns, but during the length of this speech she had leisure to collect her scattered senses, and began a reply equally elaborate, professing herself to be exceedingly attached and obliged to Lady Boileau, and for _that very reason_ declining all interference on the present occasion--"for you know," she said, "it makes one so very _nervous_ to put a friend under the unpleasant predicament of being refused. Besides, the moment one lets the world know that one has a friend who wants any thing, people begin immediately to conclude that they may want many things, and directly look shy, and make an excuse, and get off, and probably cut both the _asker_ and the person for whom they ask. However _you know_ I will do what _I can do_, but only I entreat you will leave me at liberty to chuse the mode of managing this business." "Yes," rejoined Lady Boileau, "most certainly; but perhaps the best way of all will be to say nothing about it, beforehand, and then for me to arrive unexpectedly, and say _you_ had asked me, and had forgotten to mention to Lady Ellersby that you had done so." "Oh! _not for the world_, my dearest Lady Boileau, not for the world,--besides,--I just recollect--Lord Baskerville had some idea we should not go at all;"--at that instant arrives Lord Baskerville himself, and forgetting his acquired manner, he opened the box-door somewhat abruptly, and in his natural gay agreeable way, such as is his own when he ceases to remember he is an exclusive, he said, addressing Lady Baskerville, "I have this instant had an invitation for you, which I am sure you will accept with pleasure: it is from Lady Ellersby to go to Restormel." "Dear! la! Lord Baskerville, how odd you are--that is so like you--to have forgot--and Lady Ellersby too, she must have forgotten, don't you know _we were_ asked a fortnight ago." "Ah--hem! very true," and taking the hint which Lady Baskerville had given him by an expressive glance, "hem! I _had_ really forgotten, I always forget _those sort of things_, hem!"