bestowed by Mrs Jane on the young man in question. To his face she
gave him none,--an uncivil proceeding in 1714; but Mrs Jane being
allowedly an eccentric character, no one expected her to conform to
conventional rules on all occasions.

It would seem that Mr Welles wished to lose no time in paying his court
to Madam; for that very evening, as soon as calling-hours began, he put
in an appearance at White-Ladies.

Calling-hours and visiting-days were as common then as now; but the
hours were not the same. From five to eight o'clock in the evening was
the proper time for a visit of ceremony; candles were always lighted,
there was a special form of knock, and the guests sat round the room in
a prim circle.

Perhaps the "cats, dogs, and pitchforks" alluded to before had spoiled
the pink and buff suit which had roused the scorn of Mrs Jane. The
colours in which Mr Welles chose to make his _debut_ at White-Ladies
were violet and white. A violet velvet coat, trimmed with silver lace,
was fastened with little silver hasps; white satin breeches led
downwards to violet silk stockings with silver clocks, girt below the
knee with silver garters. A three-cornered hat, of violet silk and
silver lace, was heavily adorned with white plumes, and buttoned up at
one side with a diamond. He wore shoes with silver buckles and very
high red heels, white-silver fringed gloves, a small muff of violet
velvet; and carried in his hand a slender amber-headed cane. Being a
London beau of fashion, he was afflicted with a slight limp, and also
with intense short-sightedness, which caused him to wear a gold
eye-glass, constantly in use--except when alone, on which occasions Mr
Welles became suddenly restored to the full use of his faculties.

He certainly was very handsome, and his taste was good. His wig was
always suited to his complexion, and he rarely wore more than two
colours, of which one was frequently black or white. Mr Welles was
highly accomplished and highly fashionable; he played ombre and basset,
the spinnet and the violin; he sang and danced well, composed anagrams
and acrostics, was a good rider, hunted fearlessly and gamed high,
interlarded his conversation with puns, and was a thorough adept at
small talk. He was personally acquainted with every actor on the London
stage, and by sight with every politician in the Cabinet. His manners
were of the new school then just rising--which means, that they were
very free and ea