Lady Tilney, however, in the end prevailed, and no society of _ton_ was in future considered complete without those appendages. But even Lady Tilney's command of the suffrage of talents was not always absolute; and once, it is said, a man of holy profession, whose celebrity in his calling had led the London world in crowds to be his auditors, though thrice bidden to the shrine of fashion, declined, with steady consistency, to form one of a circle whose conduct in life it was his duty to reprove. It is not to be supposed that the list of cavaliers is yet full with the names of the persons just alluded to; there were many others too insignificant to bear designation--and enough of portraits. Catalogues of these can only be interesting to a few curious collectors, and are very unsatisfactory to the generality of persons. It is living with the actors on the shifting scene, which can alone, for any length of time, engage the attention, or be productive of any just understanding of the character. To note down their actions as they occur, and to develope the system by which their lives are regulated, will be the easiest, as well as the most profitable task; for although there may be something which at first appears unnatural, and scarcely to be recognised as truth, in the idea that there exists a regular and defined system in lives, which at a hasty glance seem spent in the careless manner of the persons represented, nevertheless it is so--and there is a depth in their folly, which requires to be sounded,--there is a mischief in their apparent carelessness, which it is wise to detect--there is a principle of latent evil under this seeming incipiency of conduct, which requires to be unfolded, and shewn in its true colours. CHAPTER III. AN OLD-FASHIONED ASSEMBLY. Although the outlines of Lady Tilney's project had been generally settled, yet some of its details were still wanting; and in the interval, she determined on one of those movements in the game, which a crafty adversary sometimes makes to cover an ultimate and deeper end. The Marchioness of Feuillemerte held one of her assemblies, and as it was admissible to appear in such a circle once at least during the season, _sans se compromettre_, Lady Tilney devoted herself for that evening to the unpalatable task, and engaged Lady Ellersby to meet her. After casting a glance of inquiry round the room, "My dear," said she, "did you ever in your life see such an heterogeneous multitude (she loved long, hard words) as are assembled here?" "No, except here"--"Figures," continued Lady Tilney, "_renouvellés des Grecs_--creatures dug out of Herculaneum, only not so elegant; all George the Third's court I believe; and then such a tiresome eternity of royalty, persons who never die, and whom Lady Feuillemerte, and Lady Borrowdale have preserved, together with themselves, in spirits, I believe, to exhibit on their great nights."