the two gentlemen had personally known. She heard of Pope, still
living at Twickenham, and of his bickerings with Lady Mary Wortley
Montagu; of young Horace Walpole, who would never rival his father
as a politician, but who was beginning his course as a _dilettante_,
and actually pretending to prefer the barbarous Gothic to the classic
Italian. However, his taste might be improved, since he was going to
make the grand tour in company with Mr. Gray, a rising young poet, in
whom Dr. Godfrey took interest, as an Etonian and a Cantab.

At nine o'clock Mr. Belamour requested Miss Delavie to let him depute
to her the doing the honours of the supper table to his friend, who
would return to him when she retired for the night.

Then it was that she first saw the guest, a fine, dignified clergyman,
in a large grey wig, with a benignant countenance, reminding her of the
Dean of Carminster. When she was little, the Dean had bestowed on her
comfits and kisses; but since she had outgrown these attentions, he was
wont to notice her only by a condescending nod, and she would no more
have thought of conversing with him at table than in his stall in the
cathedral. Thus it was surprising to find herself talked to, as Betty
might have been, by this reverend personage, who kindly satisfied her
curiosity about the King, Queen, and Princesses, but with a discretion
which did not diminish that blind loyalty which saw no defects in "our
good king," though he was George II. She likewise answered a few
questions about Mr. Belamour's tastes and habits, put in a very
different manner from those of the Mistress Treforth, and as soon
as supper was over she rose and retired.

She did not see Dr. Godfrey again until he was ready for a late
breakfast, having been up nearly the whole night with his friend.