The History of Samuel Titmarsh, and The Great Hoggarty Diamond

at the old Countess and her other grand-daughter-handsome too, but ten years older. I recollect I had on that day my blue coat and brass buttons, nankeen tro

t ojous vulgar wretch, with the iron heels to his boots, and the big mouth, and

had bought it for five-and-twenty and sixpence only the week before at M'Phail's, in St.

s Augustus Hoskins. We live together; and a bet

r," said the second lady; whose name, it appears, was

ropshire Hoskinses: they say the Admiral's daughter, Bell, was in love with a black footman, or boatswain, or some such thing; but the world's so censorious. There's old Doctor Hoskins of Bath, who attended po

of admirers in those days,

, and a great beauty, too: would you ever have thought it now, upo

sible; and at my saying this the two young ladies began screaming with laughter,

al. He's one of the Lincolnshire Hoskinses-I knew he was by the strong family likeness. Is he the eldest son? It's a pretty property, though sadly encumbered; for old Sir Geo

y; but the Admiral is n

I tell you, and I'm never wr

ow Hill,-a very respectable house, ma'am. But Gus is only th

smiled at this-the

your friends, whatever their rank of life may be. Shall we

ce to-day-at least Roundhand gave me and Gus leave; and I shall be v

nite pleasure," said Lady Jane

Grandmamma? And after we have been in the Park, we can walk in Kensi

will do no such thi

hing about his uncle and thirteen aunts? and you're all chattering so, you young wo

allowed so to speak of the aristocracy), laughed, and blushed, and giggled, and seemed quite to enjoy her sister's ill-humour. And the Co

ked to the ladies. They had their joke for Lady Drum, who seemed to be a character in her wa

he look-out, and only half answered the questions put to her. Let alone Sam Titmarsh-he knows what Somebody means as well as another, I warrant. As I saw these manoeuvres going on, I could not help just giving a wink to Lady Jane, as much as to say I knew what was what. "I guess the young lady is looking for Somebo

eur:" for I know the French language, and was pleased to find that these good ladies had taken a liking to me. "I'm a poor humble lad, ma'am

n, came riding up to the carriage; and I knew by a little start that Lady Fanny gav

een riding with a gentleman who almost shot himself for love of

inute. Or was it that delight of an old bishop? He's got a lock of my hair now-I gave it him when he wa

" says I, "you

re as a cannon-ball-ask Fanny if it isn't. Such a fright as the poor thing got wh

mind to swallow me. And would you believe it? all that Lady Fanny could say was, "Pretty well, I thank you, my Lord;" a

having hoped to find a seat in Lady Drum's carriage, as he was tired of riding

r. Titmarsh hither. Let me introduce the Earl of Tiptoff to Mr. Titmarsh." But, instead of taking off his hat, as I did mine, his Lordship growled ou

ntly come up but the Right Honourable Edmund Preston, one of His Majesty's Secretaries

faced man, who looked as if he never went into the open air. "Who the

ed imploringly at her sister, and never dared to breathe a syllable. "Yes, indeed," continued Lady Fanny, "Mr. Titmarsh is a cousin of Grandmamma's by the mother's side: by the Hoggarty sid

er heard of the cousinship, feeling as confounded as could be. But I did not know the Countess of Drum near so well as that sly minx her grand-daughter di

owzer were related, as all the world knows; for Decimus Brady, of Ballybrady, married an own cousin of Aunt Towzer's

e, laughing, while the right honourable ge

call them. Poor Clan!-a cousin of yours and mine, Mr. Titmarsh, and sadly in love with me he was too. Not remember them all now,

ey horse gave a sudden lash out that well nigh sent him over his head. Lady Jane screamed; Lady Fanny laughed;

e carriage, Edmund-Mr. Preston?

I'll slip out,

s vulgar way I repeat-I don't see why my friends should be inconvenienced for him. Let him sit on the dicky if he likes, or come in and ride bodkin." It wa

d his hands and legs trembled, as he dismounted from the cob and gave the reins to his servant. I disliked the looks of the chap-of the master, I mean-at the first moment he came up, when he spoke rudely to that nice gen

in, he was going to place himself in Lady Fanny's corner (I warrant you I wouldn't budge from mine), when the little rogue cried out, "Oh,

Secretary of State l

d don't mind Fanny's folly

comfortable, very comfortable; and

horse home for you, as you seemed to be rather frightened at it; but

little eyes twinkled, and her little sly mouth puckered up

rsh," says she; and handed me a gold snuff-box, out of

e, Lady Jane Preston, hadn't you better invite him ho

and as we are going to dine at your house, and you pre

rry I'm enga

t a pity that this gentleman-I forget his name-that your friend, Lady Jane, is engaged!

, Sam," says I, "be a man and show your spirit!" So I spoke up at once, and said, "Why, ladies, as the right honourable gent is

ear people cry out how vulgar it is to eat peas with a knife, or ask three times for cheese, and such like points of ceremony, there's something, I think, much more vulgar than all this, and tha

dy asked me into her carriage, and I rode in it to please her, not myself. When you came up and asked who the devil I was, I thought you might have put the question in a more polite manner; but it wasn't my business to speak. When, by way of a joke, you invited me to dinner, I

you leave this house, or shall my servants turn you out? Turn out this fellow!

e away, for the dinner'll be getting cold:" and she was for hurrying away Lady Jane without more ado. But that kind lady, coming forward, looking very pale

her away by the sleeve, and went upstairs. But little Lady Fanny walked boldly up to me, and held me out her little hand, and gave mine such a squeeze an

one of those saucy grinning footmen should say or do something to me that was the least uncivil, so that I might have the pleasure of knocking him down, with my best c

Drum arms," says Gus; "for I went and looked them out that minute in the 'Peerage'")-that the old lady turned out to be a cousin of mine, and that she had taken me to drive in the Park. Next day we went to the office as usual, when you may be sure tha

ng vagabond that was always playing marbles on St. Bride's steps and in Salisbury Square),-when I found them all bustling and tumbling up the steps before me to ou

eaches, looking like the c

, fat, luscious, he

ught it was; but Mrs. Stokes said it was the

ree ca

COUNTESS

FANNY

PRES

ANE PR

OF TI

liveries-two great footmen, with red whiskers and yellow-plush small-clothes; and inside, a very old lady in a white poke

rsh live here?' says the youn

s at the office-the West Diddlese

e things,' says the g

he haunch in a newspaper, and on the chany dish as

th our, with Lady Jane Preston's compliments, and request his acceptance of them;' and then

etter, which my wife keeps to this d

mpany. Lady Jane is about to leave town immediately: she will therefore be unable to receive her friends in Whitehall Place this season. But Lord Tiptoff trusts that Mr. Titmarsh will hav

dy Drum at home. Friday evening, June 17." And all this cam

was for sending it at once to Brough, our director;

oard, we had plenty of ale, and gin-punch afterwards. And Gus sat at the foot of the table, and I at the head; and we sang songs, both comic and sentimental, and drank toasts; and I made a