"It would only divert a Sir Mushroom," answered Stanza, "or such people as love to see the world degraded to their own gross level. You, madam, need no foil to set off your virtues. Celibacy in you shews like the icicle on Dian's temple, and the history of an unhappy spinster who-" At this critical moment the door opened, fresh company entered, and Stanza retired dumb and mysterious as an ancient oracle. I defy the most illiberal of my acquaintance to charge me with an exuberant share of curiosity, yet, I own, Stanza's complimentary inuendo made me a little uneasy, I mean for the honour of my sisterhood. Nor was the doctor more communicative. That worthy gentleman had acquired a reputation for profound learning and wisdom, and he maintained it by reserving these hoards carefully for his private use. He was particularly cautious not to involve himself in any difficulty by hasty communications, and he has been known to lock the door before he imparted intelligence which was printed in that day's gazette. He would not tell you that the duke of Monmouth was the illegitimate son of Charles the 2d. without the saving clause of "So it was reported ;" and I therefore considered it asan extraordinary mark of confidence, that, after several interviews, and much winding and sifting, (at which I claim some share of adroitness) I induced him to commit himself so far as to say, that " Poor lady Selina had been much talked of, and might be said to have two very opposite characters." I shall not acquaint the world from what source I have since derived such copious and correct information as will enable me to fill three volumes (allowing for proper margins and amplifications) with the circumstances connected with this extraordinary lady. I am thankful that I am not in the predicament of the historians so severely treated by Stanza. The world has no doubt of my veracity, and they know that when I am barren of materials I dare not invent. Nor will I usher in my story with the pomp of supplicatory introduction. My faults and my perfections are equally known. All I shall premise is, that having been privately informed that Stanza is at work upon the same narrative, I have been forced to hurry the publication. For though I am aware his will no more resemble mine than the lives of the same person by different hands usually do each other, there is a vast advantage in being first at market; and besides, the Horatian rule respecting the time that manuscripts should lie upon the shelf, will not apply to what is annihilated by keeping; for after lady Selina has been dead six months no one will care about her or her history. Moreover, Stanza threatens me with printing from short hand, but I trust the public will be predisposed to prefer an old friend now sinking in the vale of years, who has almost blinded herself in their service. The work itself certainly must excite attention on account of its originalty; for besides that my readers. may expect to meet with some of their own acquaintance among the characters it contains, the history of an old maid, with all the scandal she either circulated or excited during a period of seventy years, must be allowed to be unique. And though I own it is undertaken with a determination of establishing the honour of our sisterhood, I do not despair of occupying a high place among impartial historians.. CHAP. I. His virtues walk'd their narrow round, JOHNSON EMILY MANDEVILLE was nineteen years of age when, in the spring of 1778, she exchanged the gloomy solitude of Lime Grove for the magnificent abode of her ancestors, situated in a romantic part of Devonshire. It was at this time the residence of her uncle, Sir Walter Mandeville, the last male heir of an ancient family, in whose person the entail expired. Sir Walter had entered the ariny in early life, this being one of the common destina |