_Fl_. Probably he doesn't stammer either. I'll try presently.
Positively, if he wore spectacles and a wig of your hair, I shouldn't
know you apart.

_Lady Gules_ [_aside to_ Elaine]. Did you ever see anything more
extraordinary, my dear? What a horrid caricature of our dear Adolphus
Gresham!

_El_. [_aside_]. I can't say I agree with you, mamma. I think he has a
more intelligent expression--more soul, I should say.

_Lady G_. You are quite ridiculous, Elaine. Half the girls in London
have bean setting their caps at Mr Gresham for the last few seasons, till
they have given him up as invulnerable; and now that you have a chance of
becoming one of the richest peeresses in England, you do nothing but snub
him. He is as clever and charming as he will be rich when his father
dies, and is certain to become a Cabinet Minister some day. He's
considered the most rising young man of his party.

_El_. That he may easily be, considering he is a Conservative. Oh,
mamma! how can you suppose that I would ever marry a Conservative?

_Lady G_. I have no patience with you, Elaine; a nice mess your Radicals
have made of it with Egypt and Ireland. But we won't go into that now;
only remember this, if he proposes, and you don't accept him, your father
and I will be seriously displeased.

_El_. [_sighing_]. I'm sure the gentleman opposite is a friend of the
people. See! he's reading the 'Pall Mall.' [_Aside to_ Adolphus.] Mamma
has just been telling me that she sees such a strange likeness between