118

DliATH S DOINGS.

convinced, was consistent with the object of hismarriage; and, having accomplished it, he quicklytransformed Miss Penny into Lady Wunderlich.

My lady gained some long-anticipated pointsby her marriage. She had acquired the sametitle as her mother, and, although the rank of herhusband was inferior to that of her father, yet, hisfortune turned the scale greatly in her favour.She had much at her command ; and by her powerof occasionally obliging the old lady in pecu-niary matters, she obtained an ascendancy overher mamma which consoled her for deficiency ofrank. Poor Wunderlich, on the contrary, foundthat he had spread his bed with nettles. Hissugar-baking concern he willingly relinquished, ashis fortune was ample; but to quit Lloyd's; hisold cronies and city habits ; to be forced to enterinto the beau-monde; to pay and receive forenooncalls with my lady; attend evening parties, giveat homes, balls, and suppers; and, to use his ownexpressions, " to have his house turned inside out,"without daring to exclaim, " My Got, meine la-die ! this will not do"—was too much for the