* * * * *
"Then I hate to see one, to whom heaven has given real beauty, settling her features at the glass of fashion, while she speaks—not thinking so much of what she says as how she looks, and more careful of the action of her lips than of what shall come from them.
* * * * *
"A pretty woman studying looks and endeavoring to recollect an ogle, like Lady ——, who has learned to play her eyelids like Venetian blinds. [Footnote: This simile is repeated in various shapes through his manuscripts—"She moves her eyes up and down like Venetian blinds"— "Her eyelids play like a Venetian blind," &c &c.]
"An old woman endeavoring to put herself back to a girl.
* * * * *
"A true-trained wit lays his plan like a general—foresees the circumstances of the conversation—surveys the ground and contingencies —detaches a question to draw you into the palpable ambuscade of his ready-made joke.
* * * * *
"A man intriguing, only for the reputation of it—to his confidential servant: 'Who am I in love with now?'—'The newspapers give you so and so—you are laying close siege to Lady L., in the Morning Post, and have succeeded with Lady G. in the Herald—Sir F. is very jealous of you in the Gazetteer.'—'Remember to-morrow the first thing you do, to put me in love with Mrs. C.'
"'I forgot to forget the billet-doux at Brooks's'—'By the bye, an't I in love with you?'—'Lady L. has promised to meet me in her carriage to- morrow—where is the most public place?'