CHAP. XXIII.

SOME days after, while we were conversing over our tea, we heard the noise of a carriage; and Mr. Stanley looking out from a bow window in which he and I were sitting, said, it was Lady and Miss Rattle driving up the avenue. He had just శ time to add, these are our fine neighbours. They always make us a visit as soon as they come down, while all the gloss and lustre of London is fresh upon them. We have always our regular routine of conversation. While her Ladyship is pouring the fashions into Mrs. Stanley's ear, Miss Rattle, who is about Phoebe's age, entertains my daughters and me with the history of her own talents and acquirements.'

Here they entered. After a few conpliments, Lady Rattle seated herself between Lady Belfield and Mrs. Stanley, at the upper end of the room; while the fine, sprightly, boisterous girl of fifteen or sixteen threw herself back on the sofa at nearly her full length, between Mr. Stanley and me, the Miss Stanleys and Sir John sitting near us, within nearing of her lively loquacity.

Well, Miss Amelia,' said Mr. Stanley, I dare say you have made good use of your time this winter; I suppose you have ere now completed the whole circle of the arts. Now let me hear what you have been doing, and tell me your whole achievements, as frankly as you used to do when you were a little girl.' Indeed,' replied she, I have not been idle, if I must speak the truth. One has so many things to learn, you know. I have gone on with my French and Ital

ian of course, and I am beginning German. Then comes my drawing-master; he teaches me to paint flowers and shells, and to draw ruins and buildings, and to take views. He is a good soul, and is finishing a set of pictures, and half a dozen fire screens which I began for mamma. He does help me to be sure, but indeed, I do some of it myself, don't I, mamma?' calling out to her mother, who was too much absorbed in her own narratives to attend to her daughter.

And then,' pursued the young prattler, 'I learn varnishing, and gilding, and japanning. And next winter I shall learn modelling, and etching, and engraving in mezzotinto and aquatinta, for Lady Di. Dash learns etching, and mamma says, as I shall have a better fortune than Lady Di, she vows I shall learn every thing she does. Then I have a dancing-master, who teaches me the Scotch and Irish steps; and another who teaches me attitudes, and I shall soon learn the waltz, and I can stand longer on one leg already than Lady Di. Then I have a singing-master, and another who teaches me the harp, and another for the piano-forte. And what little time I can spare from these principal things, I give by odd minutes to ancient and modern history, and geography, and astronomy, and grammar, and botany. Then I attend lectures on chemistry, and experimental philosophy, for as I am not yet come out, I have not much to do in the evenings; and mamma says, there is nothing in the world that money can pay for, but what I shall learn. And I run so delightfully fast from one thing to another that I am never tired. What makes it so pleasant is, as soon as I am fairly set in with one master, an

other arrives. I should hate to be long at the same thing. But I shan't have a great while to work so hard, for as soon as I come out, I shall give it all up, except music and dancing.'

All this time Lucilla sat listening with a smile, behind the complacency of which she tried to conceal her astonishment. Phoebe, who had less self-control, was on the very verge of a broad laugh. Sir John, who had long lived in a soil where this species is indigenous, had been too long accustomed to all its varieties, to feel much astonishment at this specimen, which, however, he sat contemplating with philosophical, but discriminating coolness.

For my own part, my mind was wholly absorbed in contrasting the coarse manners of this voluble and intrepid,but good humoured girl, with the quiet,cheerful,and unassuming elegance of Lucilla.

I should be afraid, Miss Rattle,' said Mr. Stanley, if you did not look in such blooming health, that with all these incessant labours, you did not allow yourself time for rest. Surely you never sleep?'

O yes, that I do, and eat too,' said she ; ' my life is not quite so hard and moping as you fancy. What between shopping and morning visits with mamma, and seeing sights, and the park, and the gardens, (which, by the way, I hate, except on a Sunday when they are crowded,) and our young balls, which are four or five in a week after Easter, and manma's music parties at home, I contrive to enjoy myself tolerably; though after I have been presented, I shall be a thousand times better off, for then I shan't have a moment to myself. Won't that be delightful?' said she, twitching my arm, rather roughly, by way of re

calling my attention, which however had seldom wandered.

As she had now run out her London materials, the news of the neighbourhood next furnished a subject for her volubility. After she had mentioned in detail one or two stories of low village gossip; while I was wondering how she should come at them, she struck me dumb by quoting the coachman as her authority. This enigma was soon explained. The mother and daughter having exhausted their different topics of discourse nearly at the same time, they took their leave, in order to enrich every family in the neighbourhood, on whom they were going to call, with the same valuable knowledge which they had imparted to us.

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Mr. Stanley conducted Lady Rattle, and I led her daughter; but as I offered to hand her into the carriage, she started back with a sprightly motion, and screamed out, no, not in the inside, pray help me up to the Dickey. I always protest I never will ride with any body but the coachman, if we go ever so far.' So saying, with a spring which showed how much she despised my assistance, the little hoyden was seated in a moment, nodding familiarly at me, as if I had been an old friend.

Then with a voice, emulating that which, when passing by Charing-Cross, I have heard issue from an over-stuffed stage vehicle, when a robust sailor has thrust his body out at the window, the fair creature vociferated, Drive on, coachman !' He obeyed, and turning round her whole person,she continued nodding at me till they were out of sight.

'Here is a mass of accomplishments.' said I, ✰ without one particle of mind, one ray of com

mon sense, or one shade of delicacy! Surely somewhat less time, and less money might have sufficed to qualify a companion for the coachman!'

• What poor creatures are we men,' said I to Mr. Stanley as soon as he came in! We think it very well, if after much labour and long application we can attain to one or two of the innumerable acquirements of this gay little girl. Nor is this I find the rare achievement of one happy genius. There is a whole class of these miraculous females. Miss Rattle

Is knight o' th' shire, and represents them all.'

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It is only young ladies,' replied he, vast abilities, whose mighty grasp of mind, can take in every thing. Among men, learned men, talents are commonly directed into some one channel, and fortunate is he, who in that one attains to excellence. The linguist is rarely a painter, nor is the mathematician often a poet. Even in one profession there are divisions and subdivisions. The same lawyer never thinks of presiding both in the King's Bench, and in the Court of Chancery. The science of healing is not only divided into its three distinct branches, but in the profession of Surgery only, how many are the subdivisions! One professor undertakes the eye, another the ear, and a third the teeth. Bat woman, ambitious, aspiring, universal, triumphant, glorious woman, even at the age of a school boy, encounters the whole range of arts, attacks the whole circle of sciences !'

A mighty maze, and quite without a plan,' replied Sir John, laughing. But the truth is, the misfortune does not so much consist in their earning every thing, as in their knowing noth