385 LADY MORGAN. words : " T. Smith, Printer and Bookseller." As she entered the doorway, the impish shop-boy, who was sweep- ing out the place, sent a cloud of dust into her face, then dropping his broom leaned his elbows on the counter and inquired : " What do you plaiz*e to want, Miss ? " " The gentleman of the house," she managed to reply. " Which of them, young or ould ? " asked the boy ; but before she could answer an inner door opened, and a young soldier in full uniform, his musket over his shoulder, entered whistling " The Irish Volunteers," and stopped short, surprised at the unexpected apparition of an exceedingly pretty girl in an exceedingly ugly bonnet. To add to the discomfort of the situation, the shop-boy, with a wink, put in his word : " Here's a young Miss wants to see yer, Master James ; " whereupon Master James, much flattered by the announcement, advanced smilingly and chucked Miss Owenson under the chin. Before she could find words to resent this familiarity, an elderly gentleman in a great passion burst into the room, half- shaved, and still holding his razor and shaving cloth in his hand, and ordered the young soldier to be off " like a sky-rocket " to join his company, which was about to march. He then turned to poor Miss Owenson, and addressing her as " Honey," bade her sit down and he would be back in a jiffy. He vanished, but soon returned in a more presentable condition, and inquired what he could do for her. She was too confused to reply immedi- ately, but, after he had repeated the question she answered faintly, beginning to untie the rose-colored ribbon : " I want to sell a book, please." " To sell a book, dear ? An ould one ? for I sell new ones myself. And what is the name of it, and what is it about ? " The title, she told him, was St. Clair, and it was a novel
