"It was at Sir George Kingston's good fortune, then," interrupted Maynard: "I congratulate you on having taken possession of a heart that so many are trying for!"
"I am sure," cried the young actress, "I never said any thing about a heart; I very much doubt whether a man like Sir George Kingston has one. He is excessively vain; and, having lived all his life in society, to society he looks for the gratification of his vanity. He has one object in existence—to be talked about; for this he devotes himself to the reigning beauty; for this he rides the finest horses, and gives the best dinners; for this he has furnished his house in Spring Gardens in the most splendid manner; and for this he will take me to be the prettiest piece of furniture, there!"
"I have heard he is very clever," said Walter.
"He is no such thing," replied Lavinia; "but he desires to be thought so. I believe, what first made him talk to me was, that he might say my good things somewhere else.
