rials, the news of the
neighborhood next furnished a subject for her volubility. After she had
mentioned in detail one or two stories of low village gossip, while I
was wondering how she could come at them, she struck me dumb by quoting
the coachman as her authority. This enigma was soon explained. The
mother and daughter having exhausted their different topics of discourse
nearly at the same time, they took their leave, in order to enrich
every family in the neighborhood, on whom they were going to call, with
the same valuable knowledge which they had imparted to us.

Mr. Stanley conducted Lady Rattle, and I led her daughter; but as I
offered to hand her into the carriage she started back with a sprightly
motion, and screamed out, "O no, not in the inside, pray help me up to
the _dickey_; I always protest I never _will_ ride with any body but the
coachman, if we go ever so far." So saying, with a spring which showed
how much she despised my assistance, the little hoyden was seated in a
moment, nodding familiarly at me as if I had been an old friend.

Then with a voice, emulating that which, when passing by Charing Cross,
I have heard issue from an over-stuffed vehicle, when a robust sailor
has thrust his body out at the window, the fair creature vociferated,
"Drive on, coachman!" He obeyed, and turning round her whole person, she
continued nodding at me till they were out of sight.

"Here is a mass of accomplishments," said I, "without one particle of
mind, one ray of common sense, or one shade of delicacy! Surely somewhat
less time and less money might have sufficed to qualify a companion for
the coachman!"

"What poor creatures are we men," said I to Mr. Stanley as soon as he
came in. "We think it very well, if, after much labor and long
application, we can attain to one or two of the innumerable acquirements
of this gay little girl. Nor is this I find the rare achievement of one
happy genius--there is a whole class of these miraculous females. Miss
Rattle

"Is knight of the shire, and represents them all."

"It is only young ladies," replied he, "whose vast abilities, whose
mighty grasp of mind can take in every thing. Among men, learned men,
talents are commonly directed into some one channel, and fortunate is he
who, in that one, attains to excellence. The linguist is rarely a
painter, nor is the mathematician often a poet. Even in one profession,
there are divisions and subdivisions. The same lawyer nev