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ANTIGUAN AIDE-DE-CAMP.
the establishment met him with all possible grace, and bowed and courtesied to his inquiries with elegant obsequiousness. No references were of course asked for—no entrance money demanded : his gay apparel was a sufficient passport, and the gentle “ maîtresse d'ecole” only thought herself too happy in acquiring the patronage of an officer of such high rank. Time sped on, and the recess was at hand—the young ladies remained with their instructress during its period— the scholastic duties were again resumed, and another six months passed away. The various items swelled to a vast amount, yet no remittance came—no aide-de-camp made his appearance. A faintish tremour played around the lady's heart, and, unwillingly, she began to think of moneyless “ soldiers of fortune." Letters were despatched to put the tardy sire in remembrance of his daughters' improvements in their various studies, and urge for a remuneration. But alas ! like " sleep," at the, call of our fourth “ Henry," it came not ; and in the end, the lady was only too happy to get rid of her fair charges without receiving any payment, resolving, however, in her mind, never to trust again a West Indian aide-de-camp.
CHAPTER XLVIII. The pure in blood—Aristocrats of the higher order—Law, physic, and divinity—Merchants and planters—Proprietors' dwellings—A day at a country-seat—Gastronomy—Beef—"Mary Swift"—Mutton— Pork—Turtle and City aldermen—Christmas. HAVING, in the preceding chapter, glanced at the “ rise and progress" of the mushroom part of the aristocracy, it may be deemed requisite for me to enlarge upon the merits of those members of that body who, to present high bearing, add the claim of good descent. And yet I know not what to say more than I have done already in many parts of these pages,