. (8)

'P. S.--You were rather stupid last week, don't you think? (9) We keep
no gamekeeper, and yet have always abundant game for friends to shoot,
in spite of the poachers. We never write on perfumed paper--in short, I
can't help thinking that if you knew us you would not think us Snobs.'

To this I reply in the following manner:--'My dear young ladies, I know
your post-town: and shall be at church there the Sunday AFTER next;
when, will you please to wear a tulip or some little trifle in your
bonnets, so that I may know you? You will recognize me and my dress--a
quiet-looking young fellow, in a white top-coat, a crimson satin
neckcloth, light blue trousers, with glossy tipped boots, and an emerald
breast-pin. I shall have a black crape round my white hat; and my usual
bamboo cane with the richly-gilt knob. I am sorry there will be no time
to get up moustaches between now and next week.

'From seventeen to two-and-twenty! Ye gods! what ages! Dear young
creatures, I can see you all three. Seventeen suits me, as nearest my
own time of life; but mind, I don't say two-and-twenty is too old. No,
no. And that pretty, roguish, demure, middle one. Peace, peace, thou
silly little fluttering heart!

'YOU Snobs, dear young ladies! I will pull any man's nose who says so.
There is no harm in being of a good family. You can't help it, poor
dears. What's in a name? What is in a handle to it? I confess openly
that I should not object to being a Duke myself; and between ourselves
you might see a worse leg for a garter.

'YOU Snobs, dear little good-natured things, no that is, I hope not--I
think not--I won't be too confident--none of us should be--that we are
not Snobs. That very confidence savours of arrogance, and to be arrogant
is to be a Snob. In all the social gradations from sneak to tyrant,
nature has placed a most wondrous and various progeny of Snobs. But are
there no kindly natures, no tender hearts, no souls humble, simple, and
truth-loving? Ponder well on this question, sweet young ladies. And if
you can answer it, as no doubt you can--lucky are you--and lucky the
respected Herr Papa, and lucky the three handsome young gentlemen who
are about to become each others' brothers-in-law.'

(1) The introduction of Grandpapa, is I fear, Snobbish.

(2) That is, as you like. I don't object to buttons in moderation.

(3) Quite right.

(4) Bless you!

(5) Snobbish; and I doubt whether you ought to dine as well alone as
w