pa declined dancing, and Miss Modish led off the first dance with Mr. Tweedledee, late a musical instrument maker. The sweet creature bore the disappointment with great resignation, only pouting little, and she was rewarded for her tient endurance of such a severe disappointment by going down the next two dances with the lieutenant of a regiment of militia; but as only six couples could be mustered, she did not long enjoy the company of this sprig of the state, and in rotation frisked with all the gentlemen who exhibited in that department. Sir Timothy Flight made his exit early, to the no small disappointment of Mrs. Modish, as he had not seen the delicious supper she had been some weeks in preparing. Mr. Abraham Modish at last, in the style of the old court, handed the bride into the supper-room; each lady was also escorted by a beau. Mrs. Mortimer' fell to the lot of Lieutenant Colonel Tartlet, and she sat between that gentle man and Mr. Mordecai Shortribs: these two persons were held in high estimation by the public. Mr. Mordecai Shortribs was a gentleman of great notoriety, known by all the fashionable world: he was fast travelling "to that bourne from whence no traveller returns;" but he possessed that firmness of mind, which is in itself a treasure; consequently, he was not to be intimidated by the future, and to recall the past to our recollection he considered to be great folly, for he could not agree with Young: 'Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours; And ask them what report they bore to heaven; And how they might have borné more welcome news. Mr. Mordecai Shortribs had an im mense fortune; and as he was charitably disposed, a kind of widow bewitched helped him with its circulation; of course, this was a platonic attachment, as the lady had a husband, who, report said, was in confinement for debt; others, that he never enjoyed his health, excepting on the Surrey side of Westminster Bridge, which the writer of these anecdotes concludes must have been the truth; otherwise, from the great friendship which subsisted between his wife and Mr. Mordecai Shortribs, assuredly that humane gentleman would have relieved her husband, as to such a mind as his the reunion of two kindred souls would have been cheaply purchased by a few thousands. Colonel Tartlet was the son of a respectable man, and Mrs. Mortimer considered herself as extremely fortunate in being placed between two such sensible gentlemen: she was ignorant whether the Colonel was a Benedict, but he was certainly qualified to enter that holy state, as she had the advantage of hearing a dissertation between the Colonel and the friend of Mrs. Driveall, on the interesting topic of education. To be sure, the sentiments expressed were very ་ novel to Mrs. Mortimer, but it had been some years since that lady had mixed in the gay world; and, from the manners of the company present, she was convinced that Colonel, Tartlet and Miss Shanks had fully weighed the subject, and were perfectly au fait how a modern belle should be educated. It would not be paying proper respect to Mrs. Abraham Modish's talents not to give some description of the supper. Every thing in and out of season were on the table; but the centre ornament was so extremely appropriate to the situation in which it was placed, that it convinced every person of Mrs. Modish's great abilities and profound learning. This was a large waggon filled with bons bons; but she would not run the risk of terrifying the delicate females who were to partake of her festivities by having horses; therefore they could not only admire, but even touch this exquisite production, without being alarmed. Supper lasted for some hours, the host and hostess doing their utmost to render every one happy; and Mrs. Mortimer concluded that they succeeded to the full extent of their wishes, by the broad grin which every counte nance exhibited. A loud rap on the table silenced the company, when Mr. Abraham Modish arose from his chair, and with all the dignity he could assume, requested that bumpers might be filled round the table to drink-" Our beloved and gracious monarch, our sovereign Lord King George the Third, and that it might please the Supreme Disposer of all human events, that he might reign as long as he had heretofore reigned, and prove as prosperous." This was drank with hip, hip, hip, and three times three; and two fiddles and a drum struck up"God save the King." All this was new to Mrs. Mortimer, for indeed she had never before been in such an elegant party; of course she was much delighted; and as her children could only profit |