Volume V Part 69 (2/2)

The third sister, having taken counsel with Victoire, and doubtless with her uineas for herself, and she had notso She it was on whoirls were like five dishes placed before a gourmand, who enjoys them one after the other To my fancy the last was always the best The third sister's nauests There were hter and her friend, Madame Cornelis, and her son Sophie was kissed and caressed by the Hanoverians, while I bestowed a hundred kisses on Miss Nancy Steyne, as only thirteen, but whose young beauty worked sad havoc with my senses My affection was supposed to be fatherly in its character, but, alas I it was of a much more fleshly kind This Miss Nancy, who seehter of a rich merchant I said that I wanted to make her father's acquaintance, and she replied that her father proposed cohted to hear of the coincidence, and gave order that he should be shewn in as soon as he caure in the coly He thanked , as he felt sure the time would coiven uineas to buy a pelisse, and she took me to ratulate ned suprehter and Miss Nancy Steyne, and felt happy Mr Steyne cahter with that tender affection which is lish parents than those of any other nation

Mr Steyne had dined, but he nevertheless ate a hundred scolloped oysters, in the preparation of which ne with equal attention

We spent three hours at the table and then proceeded to the third floor, where Sophie acco Cornelis displayed his flute-playing talents Mr Steyne swore that he had never been present at such a pleasant party in his life, adding that pleasure was forbidden fruit in England on Sundays and holidays This convinced h his French was execrable He left at seven, after giving a beautiful ring to hter, whom he escorted back to school with Miss Nancy

The Marquis Petina foolishly observed to me that he did not knohere to find a bed I understood what he wanted, but I told hi his sweetheart aside I gave her a guinea for hiain till he was invited

When all the guests were gone, I led the five sisters to the , and sleeping to ad or writing She enjoyed the 'dolce far niente' in all the force of the ter of her family, and of the lahich it i, but I only said that if these laere the saht theusta on to my knee, and said,--

”My lady, allowserusta was lavishi+ng on me secret but delicious endearments

'O te atby, greeted me, and askedthe eldest sister told the a to marry the Marquis Petina as soon as his remittances arrived

He addressed himself to her, and spoke as follows:

”Mademoiselle, it is true that your lover is really a marquis, but he is very poor and will never have any oes back to Naples he will be imprisoned, and if he is released from the State prison his creditors will put hi had no effect

After the a to take a ride when Augusta told me that, if I liked, Hippolyta her sister would come with ,” said I, ”edthat she would do me credit

”Certainly;” said I, ”but have you asuit or a woman's costume?”

”No”

”Then we must put off the excursion till to- that a suit was u, the tailor,was done in tied her horse onderful skill

After an excellent supper, to which wine had not been lacking, the happy Hippolyta accompanied Victoire into my room and helped her to undress

When she kissed her sister I asked if she would not give ed the joke into earnest by bidding her co the trouble to ask ht ell spent, and I had no reason to cousta wisely let the newcomer have the lion's share of ain in the afternoon, followed by ro, as a skilful horseman himself In Richmond Park Hippolyta's dexterity astonishedwe caood supper