on the family with which he is ambitious, shall I say to Mingle? Whence, then, this tone on Mr. Sampson’s part?”

“It is only, ma’am,” Mr. Sampson explained, in exceedingly low spirits, “because, in a pecuniary sense, I am painfully conscious of my unworthiness. Lavinia is now highly connected. Can I hope that she will still remain the same Lavinia as of old? And is it not pardonable if I feel sensitive, when I see a disposition on her part to take me up short?”

“If you are not satisfied with your position, sir,” observed Miss Lavinia, with much politeness, “we can set you down at any turning you may please to indicate to my sister’s coachman.”

“Dearest Lavinia,” urged Mr. Sampson, pathetically, “I adore you.”

“Then if you can’t do it in a more agreeable manner,” returned the young lady, “I wish you wouldn’t.”

“I also,” pursued Mr. Sampson, “respect you, ma’am, to an extent which must ever be below your merits, I am well aware, but still up to an uncommon mark. Bear with a wretch, Lavinia, bear with a wretch, ma’am, who feels the noble sacrifices you make for him, but is goaded almost to madness,” Mr. Sampson slapped his forehead, “when he thinks of competing with the rich and influential.”

“When you have to compete with the rich and influential, it will probably be mentioned to you,” said Miss Lavvy, “in good time. At least, it will if the case is my case.”

Mr. Sampson immediately expressed his fervent opinion that this was “more than human”, and was brought upon his knees at Miss Lavinia’s feet.

It was the crowning addition indispensable to the full enjoyment of both mother and daughter, to bear Mr. Sampson, a grateful captive, into the glittering halls he had mentioned, and to parade him through the same, at once a living witness of their glory, and a bright instance of their condescension. Ascending the staircase, Miss Lavinia permitted him to walk at her side, with the air of saying: “Notwithstanding all these surroundings, I am yours as yet, George. How long it may last is another question, but I am yours as yet.” She also benignantly intimated to him, aloud, the nature of the objects upon which he looked, and to which he was unaccustomed: as, “Exotics, George,” “An aviary, George,” “An ormolu clock, George,” and the like. While, through the whole of the decorations, Mrs. Wilfer led the way with the bearing of a Savage Chief, who would feel himself compromised by manifesting the slightest token of surprise or admiration.

Indeed, the bearing of this impressive woman, throughout the day, was a pattern to all impressive women under similar circumstances. She renewed the acquaintance of Mr. and Mrs. Boffin, as if Mr. and Mrs. Boffin had said of her what she had said of them, and as if Time alone could quite wear her injury out. She regarded every servant who approached her, as her sworn enemy, expressly intending to offer her affronts with the dishes, and to pour forth outrages on her moral feelings from the decanters. She sat erect at table, on the right hand of her son-in-law, as half suspecting poison in the viands, and as bearing up with native force of character against other deadly ambushes. Her carriage towards Bella was as a carriage towards a young lady of good position, whom she had met in society a few years ago. Even when, slightly thawing under the influence of sparkling champagne, she related to her son-in-law some passages of domestic interest concerning her papa, she infused into the narrative such Arctic suggestions of her having been an unappreciated blessing to mankind, since her papa’s days, and also of that gentleman’s having been a frosty impersonation of a frosty race, as struck cold to the very soles of the feet of the hearers. The Inexhaustible being produced, staring, and evidently intending a weak and washy smile shortly, no sooner beheld her, than it was stricken spasmodic and inconsolable. When she took her leave at last, it would have been hard to say whether it was with the air of going to the scaffold herself, or of leaving the inmates of the house for immediate execution. Yet, John Harmon enjoyed it all merrily, and told his wife, when he and she were alone, that her natural ways had never seemed so dearly natural