other as they do, but every body in his own sphere would be doing all he could to tend to the public weal." Lady Tilney had once again got on her favourite theme; and on these occasions she never found out that the one part of her discourse generally contradicted the other, and that her _meaning_ virtually did so where her _words_ did not, for it was always herself who was to be the mover and law-giver. But this was all matter of moonshine to her present auditress, who at length shewed unequivocal symptoms of inattention, and even hinted that it was time for her to rise. So at length Lady Tilney, reiterating the part she assigned to her respecting Lady Glenmore, took a tender leave and departed. Her next visit was made to Lady Tenderden. "Ah!" she said, on meeting her, after the first greetings, "what a relief it is to have to converse with a rational being, one who understands the meaning of things in general. I have just been talking to poor dear Lady Ellersby, who is, between ourselves, become more than ever thick, and indolent--she actually cannot understand any thing _consecutively_; however, I have, I think, at last put her in a right track upon the subject which I must now discuss with you." "I know," said Lady Tenderden, interrupting her (for patience was not her _forte_) "what you would say. The Glenmores are arrived, and--" "Exactly; and it is necessary we talk the matter over, and settle precisely the _marche du jeu_." "Oh! by all means, take _la petite Georgina en main, et l'affaire est faite--je m'en charge_." "That is precisely what I wished;--nobody is better calculated for that office. In the multiplicity of things which I have to do," said Lady Tilney, "it is not possible that I should pay that sort of attention which she will require, for she is very childish, perfectly ignorant of the ways of the world, almost a simpleton, and our society might be entirely broken up and destroyed, if we allowed her, without proper caution being previously observed, to come in amongst us. At the same time, I think it is of such consequence that we should not altogether lose Lord Glenmore, I mean politically as well as prudentially speaking, that it does appear to me to be quite worth while to take the trouble of forming that little wife of his, and making her one of us." "Oh, _certainement_," replied Lady Tenderden. "Besides, Lord Glenmore is charming; _il fera fureur_, when he becomes a little more polished, and I shall with infinite pleasure _consacré_ some hours to the instruction of _la petite ladi qui seroit à ravir si elle n'avoit pas l'air d'un mouton qui rève_." "Exactly," cried Lady Tilney, "but that is of no consequence." "Oh, none in the world," responded Lady Tenderden.