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 all around, except the supercilious Miss Sycamore, and the jealous Miss Brinville, whom envy rendered inveterate. "How exquisite!"—"How sweet!"—"How incomparable!"—"What taste!"—"What sounds!"—"What expression!"—now accompanied almost every bar of the wavering, incorrect performance; though not even an encouraging buzz of approbation, had cheered the exertions of the same performer during the elegant and nearly finished piece, by which it had been preceded. The public at large is generally just, because too enormous to be individually canvassed; but private circles are almost universally biassed by partial or prejudiced influence.

Miss Arbe chose now to conclude, that every objection was obviated; and Ellis strove vainly to obtain a moment's further attention, from the frivolous flutter, and fancied perplexities, of busy self-consequence. The party broke up: the company dispersed; and the poor,