Potts?" asked I of myself. "If it have a but
or an object, is it not to overthrow the mean
and unjust prejudices, the miserable class distinctions,
that separate the rich from the poor,
the great from the humble, the gifted from the
ignorant? Have you ever proposed to yourself
a nobler conquest than over that vulgar tyranny
by which prosperity lords it over humble fortune?
Have you imagined a higher triumph
than to make the man of purple and fine linen
feel happy in the companionship of him in
smock-frock and high-lows? Could you ask for a
happier occasion to open the campaign than
this? Mrs. Keats is an admirable representative
of her class; she has all the rigid prejudices of
her condition; her sympathies may rise, but
they never fall; she can feel for the sorrows of
the well-born, she has no concern for vulgar
afflictions. How admirable the opportunity to
show her that grace, and genius, and beauty are
of all ranks! And Miss Herbert, too, what a
test it will be of her! If she really have greatness
of soul, if there be in her nature a spirit
that rises above petty conventionalities and miserable
ceremonials, she will take this young creature
to her heart like a sister. I think I see
them with arms entwined—two lovely flowers
on one stalk—the dark crimson rose and the
pale hyacinth! Oh, Potts! this would be a
nobler victory to achieve than to rend battalions
with grape, or ride down squadrons with
the crash of cavalry.—I will come, Francois,"
said I. " Tell Mrs. Keats that she
may expect us immediately." I took especial
care in my dialogue to keep this prying
fellow outside the room, and to interpose in
every attempt that he made to obtain a peep
within. In this I perfectly succeeded, and
dismissed him without his being able to report
any one circumstance about my two travelling
friends.

My next task was to inform them of my intentions
on their behalf; nor was this so easy as
might be imagined, for Vaterchen had indulged
very freely with the wine, and all the mountains
of Calabria lay between myself and Tintefleck.
With a great exercise of ingenuity, and
more of patience, I did at last succeed in
making known to the old fellow that a lady of
the highest station and her friend were curious
to see them. He only caught my meaning after
some time, but when he had surmounted the
difficulty, as though to show me how thoroughly
he understood the request, and how nicely he
appreciated its object, he began a series of face
contortions of the most dreadful kind, being a
sort of programme of what he intended to exhibit
to the distinguished company. I repressed
this firmly, severely. I explained that an artist
in all the relations of private life should be ever
the gentleman; that the habits of the stage
were no more necessary to carry into the world
than the costume. I dilated upon the fact that
John Kemble had been deemed fitting company
by the First Gentleman of Europe; and that if
his manner could have exposed him to a criticism,
it was in, perhaps, a slight tendency to
an over-reserve, a cold and almost stern dignity.
I'm not sure Vaterchen followed me completely,
nor understood the anecdotes I introduced
about Edmund Kean and Lord Byron, but I
now addressed myself pictorially to Tintefleck
—pictorially, I say, for words were hopeless. I
signified that a tres grande dame was about
to receive her. I arose, with my skirts
expanded in both hands, made a reverent
curtsey, throwing my head well back, and
looking every inch a duchess. But alas for
my powers of representation! she burst into
a hearty laugh, and had at last to lay her
head on Vaterchen's shulder out of pure exhaustion.

"Explain to her what I have told you, sir,
and do not sit grinning at me there, like a
baboon," said I, in a severe voice.

I cannot say how he acquitted himself, but I
could gather that a very lively altercation ensued,
and it seemed to me as though she resolutely refused
to subject herself to any further ordeals of
what academicians call a " private view." No;
she was ready for the ring and the sawdust, and
the drolleries of the men with chalk on their
faces, but she would not accept high life on any
terms. By degrees and by arguments of his
own ingenious devising, however, he did succeed,
and at last she arose with a bound, and
cried out, " Eccomi!"

"Remember," said I to Vaterchen, as we
left the room, " I am doing that which few
would have the courage to dare. It will depend
upon the dignity of your conduct, the grace of
your manners, the well-bred ease of your address,
to make me feel proud of my intrepidity, or,
sad and painful possibility, retire covered with
ineffable shame and discomfiture. Do you comprehend
me?"

"Perfectly," said he, standing erect, and giving
even in his attitude a sort of bail bond for future
dignity. " Lead on!"

This was more familiar than he had been yet;
but I ascribed it to the tension of nerves strung
to a high purpose, and rendering him thus inaccessible
to other thoughts than of the enterprise
before him.

As I neared the door of Mrs. Keats's apartment,
I hesitated as to how I should enter.
Ought I to precede my friends, and present
them as they tollowed? Or would it seem more
easy and more assured if I were to give my arm
to Tintefleck, leaving Vaterchen to bring up the
rear? After much deliberation, this appeared
to be the better course, seeming to take for
granted that, although some peculiarities of
costume might ask for explanation later on,
I was about to present a very eligible and
charming addition to the company.

I am scarcely able to say whether I was or
was not reassured by the mode in which she
accepted the offer of my arm. At first, the proposition
appeared unintelligible, and she looked
at me with one of those wide-eyed stares, as
though to say, " What new gymnastic is this?
What tour de force, of which I never heard
before?" and then, with a sort of jerk, she threw