"It is very flattering," said I, eagerly looking out for him with my opera-glass, an example which was followed by Julia and Fanny. The young marquis was at that time too bashful to stand the artillery of three pair of fine eyes at once, and turned away from our eager gaze; but not till I had satisfied myself that he would not do for me one bit better than his uncle, Lord G. L. Gower: and, in the next five minutes, I had forgotten his existence. Lord Frederick Bentinck now came and asked me when I meant to keep my promise of accompanying him to Vauxhall. "Oh, we shall never get to Brighton," said Fanny, who doted on donkey-riding. "Harriette will keep us in town all the summer, as she did last year." "Summer!" interposed George Brummell, entering in a furred great coat. "You do not mistake this for summer, do you? A little more of your summer will just finish me," pulling up his fur collar. "Upon my honour, I think it very hot," said Leinster. "It must be hot, you know, because it is August." "I never know the difference, for my part," Fred Bentinck observed. "The only thing that ever makes me cold is putting on a great coat; but then I have always a great deal to do, and that keeps me warm. Once for all madam, will you go to Vauxhall on Monday night? If you will I will put off my sister and accompany you." I assented, in spite of everything Fanny and Julia could say to prevent me; for Fred Bentinck always made me merry. "What is Lord Molyneux doing with Mrs. Fitzroy Stanhope?" said I, looking towards that lady's box, where she sat _tête-à-tête_ with his lordship. "How fond you are of scandal!" observed Fred Bentinck. "Oh Lord, no," answered I, "on the contrary, I admire her taste. Who would not cut the very best swaggering Stanhope for a Molyneux?" "Where do you expect to go to, Harriette?" said Bentinck, for at least the twentieth time since I had known him. "To Amy's to-night, to Lord Hertford's to-morrow, and to Vauxhall on Monday," I replied. "And then to Brighton, I hope," continued Fanny. "We must see Elliston's masquerade first," said I. "A very respectable exhibition, indeed," observed Bentinck. "Oh! I never unmask, and nobody will find me out; but I've a natural turn for masquerading, and go I must." King Allen put his long nose into the box, and his nose only. "Is Amy at home to-night?" Fanny answered in the affirmative; adding, "But she is in her own box. Why do not you go to her to inquire?" "Lord Lowther and some nasty Russians are with her," answered Allen. "_A ce soir_, then," I said, kissing my hand to him, which was as much as to say, do not come in. He was kind enough to understand my hint. Lord Molyneux shortly took his seat by my side, and I rated him about Mrs. Fitzroy. "Remember Monday," said Fred Bentinck, as he left the box to make room for Mr. Napier and Colonel Parker, followed by the young Lord William Russell.