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22 cleverness, admirably fitted to get on in the world; she possessed those two first requisites, a good constitution and a good temper; she had little feeling, and less delicacy; she soon saw that even people of the utmost refinement sometimes permitted themselves to be amused by its very reverse—and she cared little for affording amusement even at her own expense. Let those laugh who win, is the very axiom of vulgar policy, and on that hint she acted. It was now settled that every body was to be amused by her coarse jest and her odd expressions, and therefore everybody was amused. Moreover, there was another great secret of her popularity; all in her company luxuriated in a little complacent sense of their own superiority,—one of the most agreeable of the senses to indulge. Such was the enterprising individual whose saloon was to-night a representation of the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Among other things understood of the Marechale was, that less ceremony was to be practised at her house than elsewhere. All were to do as they pleased, if they could; for, verily, to please one's self is no such easy task.

Dancing commenced; and during the course of the evening, Francesca and the Comtesse de Soissons paused for a moment to rest themselves