The Count's soliloquy was interrupted by a sudden and large accession of company, who, finding they could neither walk nor ride, for the high, cold winds, turned into the rooms supposed to be hot, as a place of refuge, thereby admitting a stream of air which taught Lady Anne to feel that her dress was unsuitable; but there was now no power of changing it. The business of the day commenced; though the sale was not great, the number of visitants was; and their pressure in the centre of the room prevented her from seeing any one whom she could entreat to procure her a shawl. After a time, as it was found that the sale was slow, that the hours remaining were few, one gentleman proposed turning auctioneer, and selling the goods by lot.
The thing took; Lady Penrhyn lent him her table, and was willing to officiate as his assistant in handing the things to him, and giving him their names, at the same time procuring him a clerk to keep accounts and receive money. The spirit of gambling seized on all, and those who had hitherto prudently withheld a half-crown now willingly bade up to a sovereign, or more, with what they deemed a proper spirit. The auctioneer was voluble, even eloquent, and an admirable mimic of George Robins, the various nature of the goods giving great latitude for the play of words. His assistant clerk played well into his hands, and his assistant lady attetudenized with immense effect, playing comic muse, or tragic, as the case admitted. Shouts
