"Well, upon me conscience, so he is now, Lady Jene; and I like sper't in a young man. So his name is Hoskins, is it? I know, my dears, all the Hoskinses in England. There are the Lincolnshire Hoskinses, the Shropshire Hoskinses: they say the Admiral's daughter, Bell, was in love with a black footman, or boatswain, or some such thing; but the world's so censorious. There's old Doctor Hoskins of Bath, who attended poor dear Drum in the quinsy; and poor dear old Fred Hoskins, the gouty General: I remember him as thin as a lath in the year '84, and as active as a harlequin, and in love with me--oh, how he was in love with me!" "You seem to have had a host of admirers in those days, Grandmamma?" said Lady Jane. "Hundreds, my dear,--hundreds of thousands. I was the toast of Bath, and a great beauty, too: would you ever have thought it now, upon your conscience and without flattery, Mr.-a-What-d'ye-call-'im?" "Indeed, ma'am, I never should," I answered, for the old lady was as ugly as possible; and at my saying this the two young ladies began screaming with laughter, and I saw the two great-whiskered footmen grinning over the back of the carriage. "Upon my word, you're mighty candid, Mr. What's-your-name--mighty candid indeed; but I like candour in young people. But a beauty I was. Just ask your friend's uncle the General. He's one of the Lincolnshire Hoskinses--I knew he was by the strong family likeness. Is he the eldest son? It's a pretty property, though sadly encumbered; for old Sir George was the divvle of a man--a friend of Hanbury Williams, and Lyttleton, and those horrid, monstrous, ojous people! How much will he have now, mister, when the Admiral dies?" "Why, ma'am, I can't say; but the Admiral is not my friend's father." "Not his father?--but he _is_, I tell you, and I'm never wrong. Who is his father, then?" "Ma'am, Gus's father's a leatherseller in Skinner Street, Snow Hill,--a very respectable house, ma'am. But Gus is only third son, and so can't expect a great share in the property." The two young ladies smiled at this--the old lady said, "Hwat?" "I like you, sir," Lady Jane said, "for not being ashamed of your friends, whatever their rank of life may be. Shall we have the pleasure of setting you down anywhere, Mr. Titmarsh?" "Noways particular, my Lady," says I. "We have a holiday at our office to-day--at least Roundhand gave me and Gus leave; and I shall be very happy, indeed, to take a drive in the Park, if it's no offence." "I'm sure it will give us--infinite pleasure," said Lady Jane; though rather in a grave way. "Oh, that it will!" says Lady Fanny, clapping her hands: "won't it, Grandmamma? And after we have been in the Park, we can walk in Kensington Gardens, if Mr. Titmarsh will be good enough to accompany us." "Indeed, Fanny, we will do no such thing," says Lady Jane.