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“Curtsied first to him!”

“Yes, that’s the rule–that’s the thing now. The ladies are always to speak first.”

“I have nothing more to say, if that be the case. Lady Augusta, what say you to all this?”

“Oh, that it’s shocking to be sure!” said Lady Augusta, “if one thinks of it; so the only way is not to think about it.”

“An excellent bon-mot!” exclaimed Dashwood. “It’s thinking that spoils conversation, and every thing else.”

“But,” added Lady Augusta, who observed that her bon-mot was not so much admired by all the company as by Dashwood, “I really only mean, that one must do as other people do.”

” Assurement,” said mademoiselle; “not dat I approve of the want of gallantry in our gentlemen, neider. But, I tink, Mademoiselle Earl is as stiff as de poker, and I don’t approve of dat, neider– Je n’aime pas les prudes, moi.”

“But, without prudery, may not there be dignity of manners?” said the old lady, gravely.

” Dignite! –Oh, I don’t say noting against dignite, neider; not but I tink de English reserve is de trop. I tink a lady of a certain rank has always good principes enough, to be sure, and as to the rest qu’importe? –dat’s my notions.”

Mr. Mountague looked with anxiety at Lady Augusta, to see what she thought of her governess’s notions; but all that he could judge from her countenance was that she did not think at all. “Well, she has time enough before her to learn to think,” said he to himself. “I am glad she did not assent to mademoiselle’s notions, at least. I hope she has learnt nothing from her but ‘ the true French pronunciation.'”

No sooner was breakfast finished than Lord George —- gave his customary morning yawn, and walked as usual to the window. “Come,” said Dashwood, in his free manner–“come, mademoiselle, you must come down with us to the water-side, and Lady Augusta, I hope.”

“Ay,” whispered Lord George to Dashwood, “and let’s settle our wager about mademoiselle and my blackamore–don’t think I’ll let you off that.”

“Off!–I’m ready to double the bet, my lord,” said Dashwood aloud, and in the same moment turned to mademoiselle with some high-flown compliment about the beauty of her complexion, and the dangers of going without a veil on a hot sunny day.

“Well, Mr. Dashwood, when you’ve persuaded mademoiselle to take the veil, we’ll set out, if you please,” said Lady Augusta.

Mr. Mountague, who kept his attention continually upon Lady Augusta, was delighted to see that she waited for the elderly lady, who, at breakfast, had said so much in favour of dignity of manners. Mr. Mountague did not, at this moment, consider that this elderly lady was Lord George’s aunt, and that the attention paid to her by Lady Augusta might possibly proceed from motives of policy, not from choice. Young men of open tempers and generous dispositions are easily deceived by coquettes, because they cannot stoop to invent the meanness of their artifices. As Mr. Mountague walked down to the river, Lady Augusta contrived to entertain him so completely, that Helen Temple never once came into his mind; though he had sense enough to perceive his danger, he had not sufficient courage to avoid it: it sometimes requires courage to fly from danger. From this agreeable tete-a-tete he was roused, however, by the voice of Mlle. Panache, who, in an affected agony, was struggling to get away from Dashwood, who held both her hands–“No! no!– Non! non! I will not–I will not, I tell you, I will not.”

“Nay, nay,” said Dashwood; “but I have sworn to get you into the boat.”

“Ah! into de boat a la bonne heure; but not wid dat vilain black.”