LONDON CHARACTERS. ADMIRAL WALLINGFORD. "But I do think it is their husbands' fault "If wives do fall." SHAKESP. Othello. THE next evening that the Duchess and her party were free from company, it happened to be Lady Charlotte's turn to afford the amusement for the soirée. She begged of her brother to take compassion on her, and kindly officiate in her stead. From your inexhaustible stock of information and novelty," she said, and your intercouse with our fashionable world, the Duchess will be more likely to find amusement and interest than from any anecdotes in my power to produce. However, if her Grace and your Lordship will but have patience to give me the hearing, I pledge myself the 1 Lady Charlotte's Promise. next time we three meet again," without other company, to introduce you to some very amiable people. The sketches which compose the story are, I assure you, taken from real life; but I fear will be thought too romantic to be admitted amongst your worldlings, dear brother : yet as your characters, though admirably pourtrayed, do not generally carry the stamp of any exalted virtues, it may not be amiss to scatter a few worthies amongst them, as well to diversify, as to enlighten and improve. My anecdotes, however, are not yet arranged, and that is one reason that I crave your mercy this evening; for I mean to give these characters in the true style of novel-composition. Do then, dear, good my Lord, proceed; your ready and cheerful compliance will best excuse me with the Duchess. "If I were not your brother, Charlotte," answered the Marquis, "I should tell yon, it was impossible to resist so sweet More Characters. a pleader but as I have the honour to boast an affinity which precludes the necessity of embellished feeling, and warrants only plain dealing and truth, I shall simply say, that on condition of your giving us your promised sketches of excellence, at no very distant period, I will this evening become your officiator and advocate." Agreed!" answered Lady Charlotte. "And now, dear brother, more characters as soon as you please." "Well, but ladies," said the Marquis, "tell me, shall they be male or female? Say, quickly; for they crowd quick on my memory. Or, shall I give you a compound of both? I have on my list a profligate wife, a wanton widow, a bride elect, and a pattern of conjugal fidelity in the shape of a brave and venerable Admiral." "Oh what a promising group," said "Give us all, or any Lady Charlotte. The Admiral's Opinion of Women. of them, dear brother; but whatever you do, do'nt, pray, leave out the dear, old Admiral." "Oh fye! Charlotte," exclaimed the Duchess, "to wish to endanger a virtuous man, by associating him with a profligate wife and a wanton widow! I tremble for the Admiral's fidelity, if he is to mix with such a set." "It is not by such women as these," answered the Marquis, "that such men as Admiral Wallingford are endangered. Accustomed from the delicacy of his taste and probity of his principles to associate only with the refined, the chaste, and intellectual of your sex, he is disgusted with those forward females, whether virgins, wives, or widows, who presumptuously display their charms, and thus invite the licentious:-from the professed wanton he turus with pity and contempt! All young and beautiful women, he A Digression says, are on an equality, as far as respects personal influence; but the qualities of the heart, the endowments of the mind, education, disposition, and acquirements, are the distinguishing ornaments of a chaste and polished woman; and they alone can fix the heart of man. Mind, dear ladies, these are the Admiral's old fashioned ideas; for my part, I know little about these subjects." "Oh! brother," said Lady Charlotte, "I am sure you have frequently evinced the same rectitude of ideas, in regard to our sex; however fashion may lead you to " Charlotte," interrupted the Duchess, "Do suffer your brother to continue, and do not be so prosing." The Marquis smiled; but he revered his virtuous sister, and often felt sensible of his mother's impropriety of conduct- |