Catherine: A Story

menaide, a dancer of the theatre at Paris, was to perform, under the patronage of several English and foreign noblemen; among whom was his Excellency the Bavarian Envoy

observant genius might borrow passages, and construct pretty antiquarian figments? Leave we these trifles to meaner souls! Our business is not with the breeches and periwigs, with the hoops and patches, but with the divine hearts of men, and the passions which agitate them. What need, therefore, have we to say that on this evening, after the dancing, the music, and the fireworks, Monsieur de Galgenstein felt the strange and welcome pangs of appetite, and was picking a cold chicken, along with some other friends in an arbour-a cold chicken, with an accompaniment of a bottle of champagne-when he was led to remar

ad occasion to wait on his father; but though he had, according to her wishes, frequently alluded to the existence of his mother, the Count had

ss, which continually took her to Whitehall, and had been prowling from day to day about Monsieur de Galgenstein's lodgings. Four or five times in the week, as his Excellency stepped into his coach, he might have re

people hanged-your Excellency's son, I mean." And he was just about to warn the Count of a conspiracy evidently made against him, and that the son had brought, most likely, the mother to play her arts upon him-he was just about, I say, to show to the Count the folly and danger of renewing an old liaison with a woman such as he had described Mrs. Cat to be, when his Excellency, s

hat the Count had forma

coloured silk-stockings with silver clasps. The lady in the mask gave a start as his Excellency came forward. "Law, mother, don't squeege so," said Tom. The po

anything ever seen so beautiful? And might not a poor woman tremble when such a noble creature drew near to her, and deigned, from the height of his rank and splendour, to look down upon her? As Jove came down to Semele in state, in his habits of ceremony, with all the grand cordons of his orders blazing about his imperial person-thus dazzlin

, and by like humble agents, were Mrs. Catherine's tumultuous passions set going. The Count, we have said, slipped up to his son, and merely saying, "How do, Tom?" cut the young gentleman altoge

e writing too, with passion, similes, and a moral at the end. What, pray, is the last sentence but one but the very finest writing? Suppose, for exampl

oi ne

omen p

sin euageeto

n of the author's o

had said, in a styl

st, and in those brief moments flitted before the united ones! How sad was that delicious retrospect, and oh, how sweet! The tears that rolled down the cheek of each were bubbles from the choked and moss-grown wells of youth; the sigh that heaved each bosom had

shine as ye did in the olden days! WE change, but YE speak ever th

yntax and the minor Greek poets. Catherine's passionate embreathings are of the most fashionable order; and I call upon the ingenious critic of the X-- newspaper to say whether they do not possess t

olumns, as mentione

have withdrawn tw

although our corr

t, according to cus

the facts o

sending to our of

d passag

ry fine evening,-egad it is!" The "egad" did the whole business: Mrs. Cat was as much in love with him now as ever she ha

y. "What do you say, madam, to a rest in

the lady,

d with a perpetual thirst. "Come, mo-, Mrs. Jones, I mean. you're fond of a

Billings, and was led by the two gentlemen into an arbour, where she was

e of such a youth as Billings in a public place with a lady under his arm. He was, the reader will therefore understand, in the moral stage of liquor; and when he issued out, it was not merely with the intention of examining Mr. Billings's female companion, but of administering to him some sound correction for v

morning lecture had been, and a hundred times more rambling and prosy. If Cat had been in the possession of her sober senses, she would have seen in five minutes that her ancient lover was a ninny, and have left him with scorn; but she

lf for him, etc. etc.; of a piece with the story of the canoness, which has been recorded before. All the tales were true. A clever, ugly man every now and then is successful with the ladies; but a handsome fool is irresistible. Mrs. Cat listened and listened. Good heavens! she had heard all these tales before, and recollected the place a

illings was drawing figures on the table with punch; and the Count talking incessantly. The Father Confessor listened for a moment; and then, with something resembling an oath, walked away to the entry of the gardens, where his Excellency's gilt coach, with three footmen, was waiting to carry him back to London. "Get me a chair, Joseph," said his Reverence, who infinitely

ne or two other ladies, and leaning on the arm of a gentleman with large shoulders and calves, a fierce cock to his hat, and a shabby genteel air. His name was Mr. Moffat, and his present occupation was that of doorkeeper at a g

welve guineas had come out of Mrs. Polly's own pocket; who, in return, had received them from Mr. Billings. And as the reader may remember that, on the day of Tommy's first interview with his father, he had previously paid a

lady, and their friends, passed before the Count's arbour, joining in a melodiou

I'm dead, that no

t' be graved

my ashes a b

good fello

rave

good fello

uavering up to the skies, they excited various emotions among the people in the gardens. "Silence them blackguards!" shouted a barber, who was taking a pint o

Briggs. When he reached her, which he did quickly, and made his arrival known by tipping Mrs. Briggs slightly on

olly, rather coolly, "is it you?

ler?" says towering Mr. Mo

n, a friend of mine," sai

all. Har you a dancing-master, young feller, that you cut them there capers before gentlemen?

lings, with becoming spirit: "if you cal

NOSE! I'll tell you what, my lad, if you du

Tommy; do go away; my cousin's in liquor," whimpered Madam Briggs, who rea

Moffat intended to utter; but he was interrupted; for, to the astonishment of his friends and himself, Mr. Billings d

ack, and whisked from out its sheath that new silver-hilted sword which his mamma had given him. "

stored peace by exclaiming, "Hush, hush! the beaks, the beaks!" Upon which, with one common instinct, the whole party made a rush for the garden gat

bethought him that he would go back to his mother; but, arriving at the gate of the gardens, was refused admittance, as he had not a shilling in hi

go away with him,"

circle, with a lady; and, what's more, in the

l him then," cried one of the

the dark walk, and found the sword, sure enough. But, instead of returning it to its owner this discourteous knight broke the trenchant blade at t

a young gentleman, who went away, and a lady, splendidly dressed and masked: that when the lady and his Lordship were alone, she edged away to the further end of the table, and they had much talk: that at last, when his Grace had pressed her very much, she took off her mask and said, "Don't you know me

man, who was dosing on one of the posts at the entry, woke up suddenly at the blaze of the torches and the noise of the footmen. The Count gave his arm to the lady in the mask, who slipped i

a loss to understand the meaning. The Count joined them, looking not a little disconcerted; and the pair were landed at their own door, whe