Meanwhile, after the way of men, his feeling for me was but heightened by seeing me the object of attention from another, and he spared no pains to look after my comfort, and constantly strove to draw me into conversation, till at length Dr. Swift with a great laugh observed:

"Young lady, if you do not take pity on Caryll and answer him with more alacrity, I vow we may as well pitch him out of the window, for his glum face is between me and the horses, and it is like looking into a thundercloud to glance in his direction."

At this I felt the blood rush up to my hair and I was deeply ashamed that I had played my part so ill; but now Captain Caryll rushed to my defense and asked the Dean who it was who had that morning compared women to parrots, and berated them that they would be always talking.

"I was speaking then," answered Dr. Swift, drawing out his snuff box and applying a pinch to his nose, "of a type of bold, swaggering, rattling woman, whose talents pass among coxcombs for wit and humour. If a gentleman in her company chance to have any blemish or misfortune she will be sure to give him broad hints of it without provocation. I have often thought that no man is obliged to suppose such creatures to be women, but to treat them like insolent ras

cals disguised in women's habits, who ought to be kicked downstairs.”

As the Dean spoke he thrust his head out of the window, and uttered the last words so loud. that I thought the sounds must carry to the other carriage, which was close behind. That they had done so I judged from a clear light laugh and Lady Mary's voice crying out: "He is bit. The Dean is bit, and like a dog he must be allowed to bark to relieve his suffering."

At this Mr. Gay came galloping up from behind asking what the jest was that made us all so merry, and thereupon every one fell to chattering and laughing.

My heart was much softened to Captain Caryll by his defense of me, and I recalled too how Mr. Pope had bade me not treat him with coldness lest I reveal the caution which I had received. But no, I will not hide behind these worthy motives. They had their share, but I must own that a sudden wave of coquetry swept over me and led me to behave in a manner which was bitterly enough punished later. All of a sudden it came over me that I had been a fool in almost yielding my heart to the first man who asked for it, and at the first asking as well. Here was I only eighteen, and, unless men were liars, possessed of a dowry of beauty which should bring me all the

world had to offer, and why should I throw it all away in the very beginning? Besides, I knew as little of Sir Miles as of Captain Caryll. Perhaps if all were known his record was no better. At any rate there could be no harm in accepting. attentions from two men when I was promised to neither.

Having come to this conclusion, my manner to my neighbour in the coach altered with a celerity which appeared to delight as much as it surprised him, and under the more genial atmosphere he blossomed forth into a most entertaining companion. He laughed and jested and related anecdotes of London society, and made himself agreeable to my aunt, all the while contriving to convey to me that his only motive was the thought of my favour.

For my part I threw judgment to the winds and played the part of a finished coquette in a way which made my aunt look pleased and Dr. Swift grave. Meanwhile the figure on horseback by the carriage never turned; and though I more than once looked timidly at Sir Miles, I was unable to catch the expression of his face, which was kept for the most part of the time averted, his eyes fixed upon the landscape as if the county of Middlesex were a strange and new country to him.

CHAPTER VIII

CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF MY VANITY

WHEN we reached Twickenham, the little drawing-room of the villa had an extraordinary pleasing aspect. The windows were open and the scent of the spring flowers filled the room. The slanting rays of the afternoon sun fell cheerfully upon Kneller's drawings in monochrome of the Apollo and the Farnese Hercules, while marble busts of Homer and Sir Isaac Newton lightened the shadowy corners.

The tea-kettle was boiling and the toast, hot and freshly buttered, stood on the table, by which Mrs. Pope was seated. Her son brought my Lord Bolingbroke to her side. She rose and courtesied low. "My Lord," she said, "I am your Lordship's humble servant."

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You speak too late, Madam," replied the viscount with his unfailing urbanity, "for I am already yours."

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What luck that Bolingbroke has!" murmured

Mr. Gay. "I wish I could persuade some lady

to make Mrs. Pope's remark to me, that I might borrow or steal so happy a response.'

While Mr. Gay was speaking, Sir Miles and Captain Caryll each pushed forward a chair for me and stood glaring at the other as if he would have his blood. Mr. Gay, observing this by-play, broke into a great laugh, and began to sing the liveliest air from his opera:

"How happy could I be with either,
Were t'other dear charmer away;
But while you thus tease me together,
To neither a word will I say.

Plunged into confusion at seeing the situation thus called to the attention of the whole company, I could do no better than accept the singer's advice and, bowing to both gentlemen, I slipped past their chairs and seated myself on a stool by the side of Dr. Swift, while the two young men withdrew to opposite sides of the fireplace, staring at each other with wrath in their eyes.

"Young lady," said the Dean, "I am interested in you."

"Indeed," I murmured, with downcast eyes, you are too good."

"No, I am not interested in you because I am good, for I own to being no philanthropist. The chief end I propose to myself is to vex the world rather than divert it, and if I could com

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