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field did this, as he confessed, from sheer love of ease; Goldsworth from what, I was told, he never allowed—an exuberant pride. Blythfield was indifferent whether his great relations, or any great people whatever, showed him attention or not; Goldsworth was jealous to the quick of all forms of respect, and thought the want of them was a personal injury. Hence, Blythfield, if people slighted him, laughed at them as fools; Goldsworth revenged himself by treating them as enemies. Blythfield went everywhere as the whim listed: Goldsworth would only move in certain company, and that only when they showed him profound deference.

The Lord Lieutenant once sent him a buck, and wrote him a letter full of flattery, requesting his support of certain measures. The answer

was characteristic :-
:-

"You might have spared your venison, as well as your flatteries. The venison I return, but I shall support you from principle."

My Lord then sent the buck to Blythfield, hoping he would accept it, though his political antagonist. Blythfield's answer was also characteristic:

"I accept your venison with thanks: I am sorry that myself and tenants must be marshalled in the Town Hall, to-morrow, against you."

It follows from all this, that one of these

worthies was seldom in it. The one was too fond of ease not to be careless of what was thought of him; the other too proud of himself not to be jealous of everybody's opinion. To sum up all, Blythfield was generally en robe de chambre; Goldsworth always in full dress. Blythfield would have submitted to the self intrusion of a beggar unex, pectedly into his house; Goldsworth, without introduction, would have rejected a Duke.

seldom out of humour, the other

Which was the most popular, which the hap, piest, or how I set each of them down in my Journal, need not to be asked.

There are people, however, who are neither Blythfields nor Goldsworths. One of them we met, a forward, sanguine sort of country beau, who said to Blythfield, he supposed he was come for the ball that night, and to attend his cousin Grandborough's public dinner the next day; and when Blythfield assured him he was going home, "Well, now," replied he, "to see the dif ference there is in persons! There is poor Simpcock and his wife, who lately, you know, came into a fortune by the death of their uncle, the great town-mercer, breaking their hearts because Lord G.'s steward assured them they were to be asked, and the invitation is not come."

"You, of course, are going yourself?" said Blythfield..

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FIELDING; OR, SOCIETY.

Why, no!" he replied, with something like embarrassment, and giving his handkerchief to his nose: " I as good as told Lord Grandborough, these fine doings did not suit me; so he has never asked me. Nor do I wish it; but as for the poor Simpcocks, they make themselves perfectly ridiculous by their anxiety about such a thing."

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Very philosophic, truly," said Blythfield, as soon as his friend had passed. "Now, to my certain knowledge, that fellow would give his ears to be invited to the dinner. Not that he would find the least enjoyment in company he so little understands; but he wishes to talk of it at his club, or on a market-day among bons bourgeois, not so distinguished as himself. So you see we simple country folk have as much folly and nonsense, in the shape of ambition, as the finest of your Londoners. However, you will have ample scope for observation on this point, if you will go to the ball."

This I promised to do, as well as to comply. with his request of calling upon him in my way to Bath.

END OF VOL. II.

London: Printed by W. CLOWES and SONS, Stamford Street.

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