The National Register.
London, England, 1819-05-03 00:00:00

MAY S.

THE NATURAL CHILD.

Arriving late for dinner at a certain noble L,rd's,
I had just time to make a kind of circular obeisance
rte the Countess, and to the company to whom I
was known,—to receive a significant but good-
hnmoured look, with a very gentle shake of the
head, from her Ladyship as much as to say, " You
have just saved your distance, as usual; always lute,
but better late than never,"—to meet the supercili-
ous eye of Lord C—, to acknowledge the haughty
Idle of Lady Avanthicr, the Nabob's wife, whose
smile is a sneer, and whose toss of the heati, after
the common inclination of urbanity, seems as if her
stiff neck upbraided her for the smallest penchant of
condescension, and her curled up-lip and saucy nose
mocked the forced smile which half, uncertain,
would-be courtliness, had placed in their neighbour-
hood,—l had just time to receive the insincere pres-
sure on my hand of a certain diplomatic character,
usel to assumed importance and to pseudo amia-
bility, that it seems to inform you that you may live
on promise as long as you like, and consider that his
protection even goes as far as a look and the hapo-
sition of hands—the weighing of two fingers, as it
were confidentially on your arm, the gently touching
yeu on the back, which is the type of" depend upon
me," where reliance is out of the question, or an
elevation of the eyebrows, as much as to say, " I see
you and don't forget you,"—finally, I was just long
enough i t the drawing-room to see the first title
proudly armed out of the room with a corscioes
look of self satisfaction, to behold the autumnal
/lowers in very high colour, cast a glance at the
snirsor as they passed by, and juin the Dii minorum
gentian: of Baronets, M.P.'s, and private gentlemen,
in chattering common-place, us we descended the
great stair-case, when I found myself placed by the
side of a very lovely young woman with a jeer sail
gaol of interest and melancholy on her countenance,
which (to me) rather heightened her attractions.
Her smile was grave, and, us it were, dubious;
her deportment timid, yet dignified ; her voice more
soothing than sprightly; and her dress rather neat
than showy. Yet, as she advanced in her short table
acquaintance with me, she gained ground consider-
ably in the interest which she inspired. She was
sensible, highly polished, and modest to a charm.
!lost of the company knew her. I was rather
astonished, however, to perceive that she did not
receive from the society that palm of preference
which so much beauty and such finished manners
claimed exclusively fin. her; for, when put in par-
rallel with her titled and other female companions,
who seemed fur the most part to eye her with in-
difference, she was like the fairest lily, the most
balmy rose, or the freshest violet, planted in a cor-
ner, and surrounded by gaudy tulips, poppies, and
ranunculuses, of firced production, and over blown.
Daring dinner, she was accosted twice by the
name of Emil. ; and my Lord once gave her a half
Awl! at good humour, in sending her, unasked,
halt' the wing of a woodcock, with a look which said,
" I know yen like this.''
As I never heard her called any thing but Emily
whilst at table. I took an opportunity, after the
ladies had withdrawn, to ask Lord what her
family name was. " White," replied his Lordship;
and he uttered the name as if it were a complete
blank in the beau monde; for it is not uncommon,
when a man names •his friends (if perchance, hap-
pily, he have any,) or his acquaintance, or guests,
to mention a little proudly,—" a person of high
public character," significantly,—" a beauty or an
heiress," rapturously,—and " a commoner, or a fair
ineognito in high life," explanatorily, statieg, " a
good family, a good fortune, a person of talent, or
of (what is more prized in a draw•ing.roout) good
expectancies."
My Lord named Miss White with bluff simpli-
city, making as little of the monosyllable as possible,
as if it scarcely merited a place in his narration.
Shc is well named," said 1, " for she is as Lir as
:be unsullied snow ; her beauty needs no high co-
louring of praise, us it speaks fur itself; her eyes
need no comment, since nature's letter of recom
akendation is there written in fine impressive cha-
racter.

11 Two or three insipids smiled mawkishly and un-
naturally. My Lord observed, " She's a nice girl,"
and then divested the subject. The diploma:the
tOutul out that the wanted usage du monde, which
proved his want of judgment ; and the Nabob
thought her too light, not in conduct, but in purse,
to merit any more than, " She's very fair, but too
cold and grave." This he could n t say of his
broad passion flower of a wife.
My interest increased with the neglect of merit
in my companions; and I attached myself' to her
company as much as p‘shible, when we returned to
the ladies. I now had recourse to a ;wreck gaerrc,