stantly caught sight of herself; and that, when not absolutely forced to look at his companion, he looked towards her. Suddenly. the two approached, and Lady Mary said, with a forced smile,—
"Will you allow me to present Sir George Evelyn to you?—the most accomplished coquet that ever
'Dealt destruction round the land
On all he judged a foe;'
under which denomination he ranks all women."
"Poets excel in fiction," said Sir George, with a quiet, almost timid, manner, "and Lady Mary is a poet: but, as we never forgive being bored, let me entreat her to talk to Lady Marchmont of some more amusing subject than myself."
"I can assure you," continued Lady Mary, "you meet on equal terms; you cannot be worse than Lady Marchmont:—
'Her eyes, like suns, the rash beholders strike;
But, like the sun, they shine on all alike,'
excepting her husband, of course."
