"As to Jenny Mason, the fifth of the _nieces_," continued the witty
gentleman, "she was as brown as mahogany, and had neither eyes, nose,
mouth, nor legs: what Mrs. Stanhope could do with her I often wondered;
but she took courage, _rouged_ her up, set her a going as a _dasher_, and
she dashed herself into Tom Levit's curricle, and Tom couldn't get her out
again till she was the honourable Mrs. Levit: she then took the reins into
her own hands, and I hear she's driving him and herself _the road to ruin_
as fast as they can gallop. As for this Belinda Portman, 'twas a good hit
to send her to Lady Delacour's; but, I take it she hangs upon hand; for
last winter, when I was at Bath, she was hawked about every where, and the
aunt was puffing her with might and main. You heard of nothing, wherever
you went, but of Belinda Portman, and Belinda Portman's accomplishments:
Belinda Portman, and her accomplishments, I'll swear, were as well
advertised as Packwood's razor strops."

"Mrs. Stanhope overdid the business, I think," resumed the gentleman who
began the conversation: "girls brought to the hammer this way don't go off
well. It's true, Christie himself is no match for dame Stanhope. Many of
my acquaintance were tempted to go and look at the premises, but not one,
you may be sure, had a thought of becoming a tenant for life."

"That's an honour reserved for you, Clarence Hervey," said another,
tapping him upon the shoulder.--"Give ye joy, Hervey; give ye joy!"

"Me!" said Clarence, starting.

"I'll be hanged if he didn't change colour," said his facetious companion;
and all the young men again joined in a laugh.

"Laugh on, my merry men all!" cried Clarence; "but the devil's in it if I