tation has made me ridiculous.

_Lady Car._ I see something has made you ridiculous; but you never
told me what it was before.

_Shuff._ Lady Caroline; this is a crisis, that--my attentions,--that
is, the----In short, the world, you know, my dear Lady Caroline, has
given me to you.

_Lady Car._ Why, what a shabby world it is!

_Shuff._ How so?

_Lady Car._ To make me a present of something, it sets no value on
itself.

_Shuff._ I flattered myself I might not be altogether invaluable to
your ladyship.

_Lady Car._ To me! Now, I can't conceive any use I could make of
you. No, positively, you are neither useful nor ornamental.

_Shuff._ Yet, you were never at an opera, without me at your
elbow;--never in Kensington Gardens, that my horse--the crop, by
the bye, given me by Lord Collarbone,--wasn't constantly in leading
at the gate:--hav'n't you danc'd with me at every ball?--And hav'nt
I, unkind, forgetful, Lady Caroline, even cut the Newmarket
meetings, when you were in London?

_Lady Car._ Bless me!--these charges are brought in like a bill. "To
attending your ladyship at such a time; to dancing down twenty
couple with your ladyship, at another,"--and, pray, to what do they
all amount?

_Shuff._ The fullest declaration.

_Lady Car._ Lard, Mr. Shuffleton! why, it has, to be sure, looked
a--a--a little foolish--but you--you never spoke any thing
to----that is--to justify such a----

_Shuff._ That's as much as to say, speak now. [_Aside._]--To be
plain, Lady Caroline, my friend does not know your value. He has an
excellent heart--but that heart is--[_Coughs._] damn the word, it's
so out of fashion, it chokes me! [_Aside._] is irrevocably given to
another.--But mine--by this sweet hand, I swear----
[_Kneeling and kissing her Hand._

_Enter JOHN._

Well, sir?-- [_Rising hastily._

_John._ Slyboots, sir, has been down on his knees;--and the groom
says he can't go out.

_Shuff._ Let him saddle another.

_John._ What horse, sir, will you----

_Shuff._ Psha!--any.--What do you call Mr. Rochdale's favourite,
now.

_John._ Traitor, sir.

_Shuff._ When Traitor's in the avenue, I shall be there.
[_Exit JOHN._

_Lady Car._ Answer me one question, candidly, and, perhaps, I may
entrust you with a secret.--Is Mr. Rochdale seriously attached?

_Shuff._ Very seriously.

_Lady C