"I saw you at the opera, last night," Paragon remarked, "and truly it was an unfair monopoly, to keep two such fine young men as Lord Worcester and the Duke of Leinster to yourself. I admire the latter of all things; so you may send Leinster to me, if you prefer Lord Worcester." "How wicked!" said I. "If ever you, with such a beautiful young family, were to go astray, you must despair of forgiveness." "Very fine talking," answered Paragon. "So you would score off your own sins, by a little cut-and-dried advice which costs you nothing." Her son and heir interrupted her at this moment, by such hard breathing as almost amounted to a snore. "That boy has caught cold!" observed mamma, and she awoke him to administer an extra Scotchman. "Good-bye, good-bye," said I, running downstairs; and when I got home, I had only ten minutes left _pour faire ma toilette_. As to Miss Eliza Higgins, Lord Fife's compliments had so subdued her, that she could not afford me the least assistance. "A charming man, the Earl of Fife!" she was repeating, for at least the fiftieth time, when a note was put into my hand bearing the noble earl's arms, and my footman at that moment informed me that my carriage was at the door. "Any answer for Lord Fife, ma'am?" asked my servant. I hastily read the note, which contained his lordship's request to pass the evening with me and my lovely companion. I did not show this to Miss Higgins on that occasion, because it seemed so very _outré_ and unhoped for that I feared it might from the mere surprise have caused sudden death. "My compliments only," said I; "tell his lordship I am very sorry, but I cannot write, because I am this instant getting into my carriage to dine with Lord Hertford:" and so saying I followed my servant downstairs. Lord Hertford had not invited one person to meet us; but his excellent dinner, good wine, and very intelligent conversation, kept us alive till a very late hour. I mean no compliment to Lord Hertford, for he has acted very rudely to me of late; but he is a man possessing more general knowledge than any one I know. His lordship appears to be _au fait_ on every subject one can possibly imagine. Talk to him of drawing or horse-riding, painting or cock-fighting; rhyming, cooking or fencing; profligacy or morals; religion of whatever creed; languages living or dead; claret or burgundy; champagne or black-strap; furnishing houses or riding hobbies; the flavour of venison or breeding poll-parrots; and you might swear that he had served his apprenticeship to every one of them. [Illustration: A VIEW of YARMOUTH.]