Part 50 (1/2)

CHAPTER VI

_A dinner party, and fortune in good huacious fe: An old acquaintance suddenly seen and dreaded, though despised: Tireat room, and more discoveries_

These points settled, the Baronet proposed to introduce me to his friends and connections, particularly of the political kind For this purpose he began with inviting , when he was to have a reed with him on public affairs

When the day came, I was presented to the company by the Baronet with encomiums, and seated on the left of Lady Bray A Scotch lord was on her right: it being her ladyshi+p's custo fellow properly introduced, if he be new in the circles of fashi+on and possessed of a tolerable figure, is in no danger of being ill received I had not indeed learned to be an adept at small talk: a qualification which, contemptible as it is, will supply the want of every superior requisite, whether of e, be attentive, and speak theto say

I had laid no plan on this occasion: not having then read, or not ree reflections, on the necessity of a states ith the ladies

It happened however that, on this occasion, I was received with distinguished els: fro-invitations

Music and the opera were a the topics on which they conversed I was found to be an amateur; and Lady Bray was one of the dilettanti, had concerts at her own house, and a box at the opera: to both of which she said I should at all ti an offer to be refused; and I willingly agreed to attend her ladyshi+p the following evening, and hear the charari in Fiera_ by Paisiello

The opera season began rather early that year, many families were not yet co of coaches, and, had her ladyshi+p not provided against the o more late than usual, we should have been so unfashi+onable as to have heard the first act As it e arrived before it was over

The thing on which her ladyshi+p bestowed her ilass, which of the subscribers were in their boxes; and howthem Politeness induced me to accompany her in this excursion of the eye: for not to have listened to the naes, of her friends, with the births, deaths, es, creations, and presentations at court of them and their families, of which materials small talk is chiefly if not wholly coood breeding

Why yes Listen I did, as long as I was able: till ue, and faculties were all riveted to one spot!

Her ladyshi+p's box was near the centre She had carriedone side, and had proceeded to about three of the opposite, when she directed her glass to one, with the owners of which she had no acquaintance: but she knew the naraved on her fan

That name was Mowbray! And the persons in it were Hector, his aunt, and Olivia!

I was silent, gazing, entranced! Her ladyshi+p had talked I know not how long; and I had neither answered nor heard one word

'Bless me,' said she, 'Mr Trevor! why you are _absolutely_ in a revery all of a sudden! That Miss Mowbray I find is a very dangerous young lady: for I am told that all the men are _positively_ mad after her; and here are you _absolutely_ struck speechless! What! Not a word yet?'

'I beg ten thousand pardons'

'Why this seeht! You are not acquainted, I suppose, with the Mowbrays'

'Yes, my lady: from my infancy'

'Oh, oh! Why, then to be sure you are intimate with this beauty; who _absolutely_ eclipses us all I assure you she is _positively_ the belle of the day I hear she has the very first offers But you are not silly enough to act the dying swain? What, no answer? Well, well: I see how it is! But, as we never read in any of the entle youths who break their hearts for love, in the present ungallant age, you are in no great danger Though I think I never saw any creature look more like what I should suppose one of your true lovers to be than you did just now: for, beside your speechless attitude, which was _absolutely_ picturesque and significant, you were _positively_ pale and red, and red and pale, al ofI cannot get a word from you!'

'Your ladyshi+p's raillery quite overpowers me'

'I declare I aer been all of a sudden struck, the wonder would not have been _absolutely_ so great: but it is _positively_ unaccountable in you who are a familiar acquaintance of the family'

'I cannot boast of that honor'

'No, indeed! Why, do not you visit the Mowbrays?'