"No (for at this moment the Duke of Mercington was coming towards her), I have already seen the Duchess." Lady Tilney would then have lingered, glad to have exchanged the arm on which she leant for that of the man of still higher rank; but the Duke only making her the acknowledgment of a familiar nod, offered his arm to Lady Ellersby, and as her friend walked away in a contrary direction, Lady Tilney, mortified, bit her lip, and was obliged to proceed. The crowd in the door-way soon stopped her progress, and turning to her companion, she observed, "I wonder how many private couriers Lady Borrowdale keeps in pay, to bring over the newest fashions from Paris. Have you seen her to-night? did you ever behold any thing like the magnificence of her gown?"--"I think," replied Lord Arlingford, "that she is a very fine-looking person, and in her youth must have been perfectly beautiful; but I did not observe her gown." The subject seemed to inspire Lord Arlingford, who broke through the usual briefness of his sentences as he continued, "And her manner, I think, is excellent; there is so much dignity in it, united with so much courtesy; and she is never, I am told, capricious, or forgetful of good-breeding." "Why, my dear Lord Arlingford, this is an oration--you are quite eloquent! But you cannot really like that old-fashioned _manière_ of curtseying." "Indeed I am serious; I like it very much: and if I were to point out the person whose manners I should like to see any one I loved adopt, in public at least--for I have not the honour of her intimate acquaintance--it would be Lady Borrowdale's." "How singular you are! Really, if you entertain such opinions as these, we must expel you from our circle. But if you are determined to be extraordinary, I suppose you will tell me that you cannot bear any thing that is younger or more modern." "Pardon me; there is Lady Georgina Melcombe, and the Ladies Fitzmaurice, and their cousins, the Ladies Partington, and many others, who look as if they were every thing which the young and lovely ought to be,--unaffected, cheerful, and courteous." "Oh, this is worse and worse; you are becoming quite insufferable. But do tell me who is that person there, whose appearance is so particular, and who has so extraordinary an air--is he a foreigner?" "No--that is Lord Albert D'Esterre. Are you not acquainted with him? He is a very charming person,--full of talent, and very handsome, as you see. But I forget--you cannot well recollect him, for he went to the Continent as a boy, and is only lately returned." "True; I remember--I hear he is likely to distinguish himself--pray present him to me." The presentation took place; and, after a few words, including an invitation to Lord Albert to her _soirées_, Lady Tilney passed on with Lord Arlingford to where the Duchess of Hermanton was standing.