wearing large three-cornered hats, laced and feathered, and carrying long gold-headed canes, congregated at Sir Gresham's door, which, being thrown wide open, admitted a view of other lacqueys and porters lining the passage, or standing at the foot of the staircase, all quite as grandly arrayed as their fellows outside, and quite as proud in look and deportment.

But let us now repair to the room where the breakfast party were assembled, and bestow a glance at its occupants.

The Lady Mayoress, it has been intimated, was a few years younger than her husband, and being still in remarkably good preservation, might be termed a fine woman. Her person was rather on a large scale, it is true, her features fat and rounded, and her once dimpling chin doubled, but her teeth and eyes were good, and she had an agreeable smile, and a generally pleasing expression of countenance. Her size, however, was vastly exaggerated by the outrageous dimensions of the hoops sustaining her pink satin gown, which was decorated to profusion with large bows of ribbon, cords, tassels, and wreaths of flowers, and festooned with great bands of parti-coloured silks; while her stature was increased in the same ratio by a surprisingly lofty head-dress, which rose full three feet above her brows, and might have over-balanced a less substantially-built frame. This monstrous "head," the interior of which (if we may venture to reveal the secrets of the toilette), was formed of tow, rose up smooth and straight as a wall in front, being stiffened with powder and pomatum, while the sides and back were covered with ranges of enormous curls, likewise plentifully besprinkled with powder. Some of these curls descended upon her ladyship's ample shoulders. But we have not yet done. The towering head-dress in question, which reminds one of Queen Huncamunca's, was hung over with ropes of pearls, and other jewels, decorated with ribbons in bobs and ties, and surmounted by a plume of ostrich feathers. There seems little danger of such a mode as this being revived, but it may be well to remark, by way of caution, that, independently of the time occupied in its construction, the shape, which was calculated to last for a fortnight, could only be preserved by the wearer sleeping in a chair during the whole of the time.

Such, ladies, was a Lady Mayoress in the times of your greatgrandmothers.

Separated from her mother by the Lord Mayor's chaplain, Dr. Dipple,—a fat, rubicund-visaged divine, attired in cassock and band, who looked as if he did not despise the good things of this world, and had assisted at many a civic feast,-was Lady Lorimer's eldest daughter, Lady Dawes, a lively, dark-eyed, coquettish, and very pretty widow of some three or four-andthirty. Lady Dawes's rather full figure-for her ladyship promised in due time to attain to her mother's goodly proportions -was arrayed in a polonese of garnet-coloured lustring, made very high behind, and very low in front. Open from the waist, and

looped back so as to display a rich diamond-quilted petticoat, this very becoming dress was puffed at the sides with ribbons, and edged with lace. The half moon toupee, in which form her ladyship's raven tresses-now changed in hue by powder-were arranged, suited her to a marvel. Lady Dawes's features were by no means classical in outline. There was nothing severe, or chiselled, in their style. But without being regular, they were pretty, and their expression was eminently pleasing. She was the relict of Sir John Dawes, a rich old goldsmith in Gracechurch-street, whom we suspect she must have married for his money, for he had no other recommendation, and who had died a few years before, leaving her all his treasures. With her personal attractions and her wealth it will not be supposed that Lady Dawes lacked suitors -in fact, she had a great many-but she did not seem inclined to assume the matrimonial yoke for the second time.

The Lady Mayoress's second daughter, Mrs. Chatteris, who was likewise present with her husband Captain Chatteris, of the Honourable City Artillery-Tom Chatteris, as he was familiarly called-was also a very pretty woman, though in quite a different style from Lady Dawes, being a blonde, with soft blue eyes, a delicately fair complexion, and languishing looks. Lady Lorimer had been heard to declare that she did not know which of her two married daughters was the handsomest-she sometimes gave the palm to dearest Olivia, sometimes to dearest Chloris. But she never compared her youngest daughter, Millicent, with either of them. Mrs. Chatteris, however, was pretty enough to make any mother vain, and any husband jealous, though Tom Chatteris neither doted upon her nor was jealous. In fact, he rather liked to see her admired, and as Mrs. Chatteris had no objection to admiration, this did very well. Provided he was allowed to flirt as much as he pleased, Tom never thought of interfering with his wife's proceedings, and this mutual good understanding being arrived at, they lived together on the best terms possible. Sir Gresham would have liked to see a little more real conjugal regard on both sides, but as Lady Lorimer assured him that dearest Chloris was perfectly happy, he was fain to be content, simply remarking that "this was not the way married folk used to live together in former days."

"Ah! but habits of life have greatly changed since our time, Sir Gresham," observed Lady Lorimer.

"So it seems," he replied, dryly; "but I am dull enough to like old manners best. I could never have borne to see any one make downright love to you, as I perceive some of those scented fops do to Chloris; and for all your pretended indifference, I don't think you would have liked me to run after every pretty woman I met, as seems to be the case with Tom Chatteris."

"I don't think I should, my dear," Lady Lorimer rejoined, quickly agitating her fan. "But our case is very different. We, you know, married from love."

"Then you don't think people do marry from love now-a-days,

eh? At all events, I hope Milly won't follow her sisters' example in that respect."

"I shall be very glad if Milly marries as well as either of them, rejoined Lady Lorimer, somewhat sharply. "Dearest Olivia was the envy of all our City belles when she married that Croesus,

old Sir John Dawes

66 Well, I can't say that was a bad match, regarded in a pecuniary point of view," Sir Gresham interrupted; "but it was entirely your making, my love."

"So it was," she rejoined. "I take the entire credit of it. And dearest Olivia is greatly obliged to me, if you are not, Sir Gresham. What could she desire better?"

"Why, Sir John Dawes was twelve years older than myself, cried Sir Gresham. "I remember him when I was a boy and dwelling in Bucklersbury."

"Don't refer to that period, I beg of you, Sir Gresham. Sir John's years were a recommendation rather than otherwise, since they gave his wife the assurance of becoming the more speedily a widow. And he was obliging enough to gratify her, and to leave her ten thousand a year in testimony of his affection. If that can't be termed marrying well, I don't know what can."

"Well, well, my dear, I won't contradict you. Ten thousand a year is a jointure not to be despised, and Olivia may please herself, if she marries again, that's quite certain. But you can't say there were any such worldly advantages as those in Chloris's case, and you were as eager to bring about that match as the other. You know I objected to Captain Chatteris, and thought him too gay, too fond of pleasure-not quite steady enough, in short-but I suffered myself to be overruled by you."

"And very properly so, too, Sir Gresham. Where a daughter's happiness is concerned, no one is so good a judge of the means of ensuring it as a mother. Captain Chatteris and dearest Chloris seemed made for each other. You remember I said so when he danced with her at the ball at Goldsmiths' Hall, where they first met."

"I remember he was very assiduous in his attentions to you, my dear, and paid you nearly as much court as he paid Chloris."

"Mere fancy on your part, Sir Gresham. Captain Chatteris is the best-bred person I know. He has been brought up in a good school, which teaches that assiduous attention to our sex is the primary duty of man."

"The lessons he learnt at that school have not been thrown away upon him, it must be owned," laughed Sir Gresham. "He rarely fails to profit by them."

"And much to his credit, if he does," Lady Gresham rejoined. "To my mind, people can never be too polite. You would be none the worse yourself, Sir Gresham, if you imitated Captain Chatteris in that respect a little. However, let that pass. Tom's agreeable manners and good looks won dearest Chloris's heart, as you know,

1

and I could not refuse my consent to the union, though he wasn't quite so well off as might have been desired."

"Well off!" exclaimed Sir Gresham. "Zounds! he had less than nothing. He was over head and ears in debt."

"But he confessed his position so charmingly, and promised amendment so earnestly, that one could not fail to be pleased with him, and take him at his word. And you behaved nobly, as you always do, Sir Gresham. You not only paid his debts, but agreed to make them a handsome allowance on their marriage."

"Which they have always exceeded," observed Sir Gresham. "I hope Tom isn't in debt again. I shan't help him out of his difficulties a second time, I can promise him."

"If he owes anything 'tis a mere trifle. A few hundreds, which you will never miss, Sir Gresham, will set all right." "Then he is in debt!" cried her husband, angrily. fury! I've a good mind to turn my back upon him.'

"Fire and

"No you won't, Sir Gresham," she rejoined, in the coaxing tone which seldom failed in effect. "You are far too kind, too generous for that. Set him clear once more, and I'll answer for his good conduct in future."

"I won't promise anything till I know precisely how much he owes, and whom he owes it to," said Sir Gresham. "When I am

satisfied on these points I will decide. But it is not merely of Tom's extravagance that I complain, but of the bad example he sets to our son, Tradescant, who, I fear, is disposed to tread in his steps. Use all the arguments I please, I can't get the young scapegrace to attend to business."

"No wonder, Sir Gresham. Tradescant knows he is an only son, and he likewise knows you are very rich."

"Tom Chatteris takes care to impress that upon him pretty forcibly. What is more, he tries to make a fine gentleman of him, and teaches him to despise his father's business."

66 Why you wouldn't have Tradescant a draper, Sir Gresham?" cried Lady Lorimer. "Surely, you intend him for something

better than that!"

"And what better could he do than follow the business which his father and grandfather have conducted before him? Zounds! I'll have none of these fine airs. Tradescant is a son of a tradesman, and ought not to be ashamed of his origin. If he is, I'm ashamed of him. But he shall attend to business. He shall be seen in the shop. He shall stand behind the counter."

"He will die first. What! our son, Tradescant, measure out a few yards of cloth for a customer! Dreadful!-not to be endured!"

"And why not?" cried Sir Gresham. "I've measured many a yard of cloth in my day, and thought it no disgrace. But times are changed now. Sons begin where fathers leave off."

"And very natural too, Sir Gresham. Don't lower your son, I

that he thought her positively handsome-far handsomer, indeed, than either of his other daughters. But this no doubt was a mistake, and entirely attributable to his partiality. No one else discovered these beauties, because poor, retiring Millicent, who, kept in the background-" the proper place for her," Lady Lorimer said-was generally overlooked. It cannot be denied, however, that she had a very good figure; tall, slight, and perfectly formed. Her rich dark tresses were taken back from her smooth brow so as to form a very pretty toupee of moderate size, while her profuse back locks, which, when unfastened, fell down almost to her feet, were clubbed behind, and secured by a broad pink ribbon, tied in a bow. Her gown was of dove-coloured silk, long waisted, laced over the stomacher, and had short sleeves to the elbow, adorned with large ruffles. There was no other ornament about it. Her feet were quite as small and as pretty as those of her sisters, and this was the only point of resemblance between them.

Having thus completed the survey of the female members of our Lord Mayor's family, we will next glance at his only son, Tradescant. It will not be thought surprising that Lady Lorimer should deem it degrading in such a smart young gentleman as we are about to present, to pay any personal attention to his father's business. Tradescant was a beau of the first water. A richlylaced, maroon-coloured velvet coat, made in the extremity of the mode, with large cuffs, and without collar, and a long-skirted satin waistcoat, embroidered and laced like the coat, set off his really fine person; while cobweb silk stockings of a ruby colour, and shoes with diamond buckles in them, were equally advantageous to the display of his leg and foot, of both of which the young fellow was not a little vain. Ruffles of the finest Mechlin lace, a deep frill of the same material, and a muslin cravat completed his costume. A dishevelled peruke of flaxen hair assisted the rakish look and deportment he affected. But for this dissipated expression, and his extreme foppery of manner, Tradescant Lorimer might have been termed a very handsome, elegant fellow; but his graces, such as they were, were all external, for though not devoid of spirit, he was shallow-pated and frivolous, devoted to pleasure, led by his equally dissolute brother-in-law, Captain Chatteris, and preyed upon and duped by his other profligate associates. With the worst side of his son's character Sir Gresham was entirely unacquainted. He knew him to be idle and extravagant, but he did not know the sort of company he kept. He was aware that he frequented Ranelagh, Vauxhall, and Marybone Gardens, the Opera and the theatres, and he saw no great harm in this, but he never dreamed that he haunted taverns and gaminghouses, consorted with racing-men, and betted at the cock-pit. Had these proceedings come to his father's ears, Tradescant would have felt the full weight of the old gentleman's displeasure.

Conspicuous among the party at the breakfast-table was the