"I wish all the young men would dress as you do," said I to his lordship. "That dear, little, gentleman-like bow, on the little, _vielle cour_, three-cornered hat! How quiet and interesting compared to the vile, gold-laced, dragoon-looking flat thing Lord Uxbridge carries under his arm!" "What you say is most highly flattering," said Lord Molyneux, with good-natured composure. "And then, white silk stockings always win my heart, no matter who wears them. In short, your lordship is better dressed, and better adapted altogether to set off a woman's opera-box than Brummell, Lord Jersey, or any man I know; and, if I could only have ensured to myself the honour of a visit from you every night, I should not have put myself to the expense of ten pounds for these new red curtains." Lord Molyneux said that he was sure I ought to give him credit for the gentleness of his disposition and the unheard-of patience with which he stood there to be quizzed and laughed at; and yet, added Molyneux, "Though this is invariably what happens to me, your box altogether has attractions one cannot resist." "All nonsense," said I. "I am no longer to be put off in this manner, I, who am stark staring mad for you!" "I am off," said Fred Lamb. Julia, who greatly admired him, as well as the character I had given her of him, entreated him to remain. "You have not settled your rural excursion with Harriette yet," Julia told him. "Oh, true! where is it to be?" I was obliged to ask; because Fred looked in such a passion with me. "Would you like Richmond?" Fred inquired. "Oh, no!" I answered. "Sophia and I dined there a short time ago, and--variety, you know, my dear Fred Lamb, is everything, even at fifty years of age!" "Go to _The Cock_ at Sutton," said Berkely Craven, who had joined us. "It is a delightful, pretty, rural place for a man to read rhymes, and be romantic in; just fit for you, Fred." "Are you ever taken with either a fit of reading, or a fit of romance, Berkely?" "Ask my young nephew here, who can tell you how I used to sit, and sigh, and drink brandy and water with Mrs. Patten after the play," answered Berkely. "So much for your romance!" said I. "And, as to reading," continued Berkely, "I will be bound to say, that, among men who have received no regular education, not one has read more plays and farces than I have; and I always read the newspaper from beginning to end, except the debates." The Duc de Berri next came in; and we all stood up till he was seated, as bound by etiquette; and then followed my young, new acquaintance, the Duke of Leinster, who stood up by himself, like a noun substantive, for want of a chair.