Part 12 (1/2)

I had not forgotten his lordshi+p's former jolly tutor, the terms on which they had lived, or the treatment to which this tutor had occasionally submitted Yet I was not displeased with the proposal I spurned at the idea of any such subed: and changed it certainly was, though I then knew not why, or to what Nor was it supposed that I was to act as his menial I therefore expressed my sense of his lordshi+p's civility, and owned the situation would be acceptable to me, as I was not at present encu in London I found was likely to prove expensive I had desired to have a genteel apartment, and Enoch had told uinea and a half per week, at which I had been not a little startled The secret of want of wealth a very cunning h from other motives, would have told it with the same unaffected simplicity that I did

Still the transports of Enoch, at his lordshi+p's bounty, were inexhaustible They putunable to keep pace with hiations, or at his is for me of which I was unconscious, is more than I can tell For his part, he did but speak on the behalf of his young friend I had come well recoular affection for rateful to his lordshi+p for all favours His good advice should certainly never be wanting; and patrons like his lordshi+p could not, by any possible efforts, be too humbly and dutifully served

I did but feebly second this sub professions for favours not yet received Luckily however he talked so fast, and was so anxious to recommend himself, that I had scarcely an opportunity to put in a word He took all the trouble upon hiht to have mentioned that, before the proposal was made, his lordshi+p had taken care to inquire if I understood the living languages? He spoke a few sentences in French to me himself, and attempted to do the same in Italian, but succeeded in the latter very indifferently My answers satisfied hier to these studies

The fact was, his lordshi+p found it necessary to keep a secretary, to aid him in his politics not only to write but to think; and I afterward learned, from his valet, that he had allowed a hundred a year to one who had left his service that very day His lordshi+p was doubtless therefore well satisfied with the , in which he not only recovered his diaht it, by suffering hiratis for which he had before been obliged to pay

CHAPTER IV

_Memento of an old acquaintance: Gentility alarood breeding_

By the order of his lordshi+p, two chairmen with a horse were dispatched for iven me of the apartment occupied by my predecessor In this apartment a trunk, which he had not removed, was left; and on it was a direction to Henry Turl

This excited my curiosity: I inquired of the valet, and from his description was confire acquaintance, Turl, had been his lordshi+p's late secretary

Though at college I had considered his opinions as dangerous, yet every thing that I had heard of his behaviour challenged respect I scarcely knew, at present, whether I wished to have any intercourse with hi made me hope well of his ood fortune was in danger of being immediately disturbed, by an incident which totreated as the friend and companion of his lordshi+p, when the dinner hour came an invitation was sent up to me by the housekeeper, from which I understood I was to dine at what is called the second table At this time I had much pride and little philosophy, and a more effectual way to pique that pride could not have been found I returned a civil answer, the purport of which was that I should dine out, and i hiranted his housekeeper had mistaken his intentions, and did not understand the terms on which I presumed I was to live in his lordshi+p's house His lordshi+p had said he wished me to be his companion, and this distinction would certainly make me unfit to be the co ave me immediate relief, and was productive of the effect intended His lordshi+p took the hint norance of his housekeeper's proceeding My appearance, person, and understanding he thought would not disgrace his table, at which consequently I was afterward per, I went by appointment to visit at the house of the reverend Enoch; when I was introduced by hientleraduate of Oxford, intended for the church, of prodigious connexions, recommended to a bishop, patronized by an earl, and his very particular good friend

I bowed and the ladies curtsied Mrs Ellis too had studied the art of reeable, but in a very different way fro in what are called parties, learning the private history of all her acquaintance, and retailing it in such a ratify the humours, prejudices, and passions of her hearers She had soreat pretensions to musical and theatrical taste, and the belles lettres

She spoke both French and Italian; ill enough, but sufficiently to excite the admiration of those who understood neither She had lately persuaded Enoch to make a trip with the whole fao of information; all very much at the disposal of her inquisitive friends

Her daughter, Eliza, was mamma's own child She had an _iue that could not tire

She had caught the led cant of Enoch and her mamma, repeated the names of public people and public places much oftener than her prayers, and was ready to oith no little self coious severe_

In addition to these shi+ning qualities, she was a musical amateur of the first note She could make the jacks of her harpsichord dance so fast that no understanding ear could keep pace with thenor Gridarini, affir all the dilettanti in Europe, there was not so great a singer as herself The most famous of the public performers scarcely could equal her In the bravura she astonished! in the cantabile she charios!

Oh! they were ravishi+ng! killing She indeed openly accused hinor Gridarini appealed both to his honour and his friends; the best judges in Europe, who as she well knew all said the same

Of personal beauty she herself was satisfied that the Gods had kindly granted her a full share 'Tis true, her stature arfish: but then, she had so genteel an air! Her staymaker was one of the ablest in town Her complexion could not but be to herthat she could not correct to her perfect satisfaction was a so of a cast with her eyes; which especially when she ireeable, was very like squinting Not but that the thought squinting itself a pleasing kind of blemish Nay there were instances in which she scarcely knew if it could be called a blemish

By these two ladies I was received with no little distinction The hter surveyed my person, hich she was almost as well satisfied as with her own

I heard her tell her feht ious_ handsome; and, when they s fro_, and merely as a person of solish grammar, and her French pronunciation; but I was not at this tiave of ained me additional favour Miss Eliza was quite in raptures to hear that I could accompany her in a concerto; or take a part in an Italian duet She vowed and protested again, to her friends, that I was aman! She spoke aside, but I was rather re She proposed a lesson of Kozeluch's immediately I should play the violin accompaniment, and her papa _as it was very easy_ would take the bass

All voices, for there was _a prodigious large party_ by this time, were loud in their assent Every body was sure, before any body heard, it would be _ The fiddles were tuned, the books were placed, the candles were snuffed, the chord was struck, and off ent, _Allegro con strepito!_

We obeyed the co the first thirty or forty bars, till the _obligato_ part came, in which Miss was to exhibit her powers She then, with all the dignity of a _ rays full at Enoch, and called aloud, _piano_! After which casting a gracious smile to me, as much as to say I did not ave a short cough to encourage herself, and proceeded