THE RUFFLES.

HAGUE.

I WAS invited to the Cercle.*

"Good God!" cried

I, turning over my ruffles and stockings, "what paltry things! they will never do for such an occasion-I must undoubtedly purchase others."

Now, both ruffles and stockings were absolutely new, and even of the finest sort; but the fact is, that I wished to frame to myself an excuse for visiting the petite Bourgeoise.

It is really very strange; but I felt something like a friendship for her. I wished to see her: I was desirous of speaking with her; but then I had no particular business; and what was to be done in such a case? Why, I fancied I wanted ruffles.

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Beside," said I to myself," were I really not in want of these things, it would be but handsome to lay out half a dozen ducats with a woman who has behaved to me so very handsomely."

This determined the matter at once; and I accordingly repaired to her shop.

"Mon cher Monsieur," cried she, "comment vous va-t-il ?"-By the way, there is something extremely captivating in that " Mon cher Monsieur," which is so very common with a Frenchwoman: not that I would be thought to insinuate, that a Frenchwoman means any thing by it—I rather imagine she does not. Be that, however, as it may, it is certainly very pleasing, and not unfrequently gains the heart.

I sat down by the counter; and such was the rapidity and agreeableness of her conversation, that I actually

* An assembly held at the Old Court, at the Hague.

forgot to ask for the ruffles, and even never thought about them till I had got back to the hotel.

I returned immediately to the petite Bourgeoise, telling her of my absent fit. She laughed immoderately; and, looking fixedly in my face, significantly demanded, "To what it could possibly be owing?"

At this instant, her husband coming to the door, I told her it was impossible for me to answer her question then; but that I would take another opportunity of doing it. So, making a pretty low bow to the husband (though I secretly wished him at the Dogger Bank), and a much lower to the wife, I returned forthwith to my hotel; but not without a resolution of shortly seeing the lady again. The ruffles were still unbought.

CHAGRIN.

HAGUE.

WHEN a man is thoroughly out of humour, he should shut himself up for an hour or two in his closet: it will give him time for reflection, and, consequently, hinder him from acting absurdly.

The husband of the petite Bourgeoise had interrupted me in my tête-à-tête with his wife; and I accordingly wished him hanged for it. That was undoubtedly very natural: but why I should quarrel with almost every one who came in my way for some time after (and so it actually happened), I shall leave to the determination of the philosopher. He will account for it in a better manner than I can.

*

I sat down at the Table d'Hôte-every thing was badly drest-the wines were execrable-I was unable to

Every other person, nevertheless, found them excellent. I walked out towards the Voorhout. I met the miserable object whom I had relieved a day or two before, and whom I had wished to see again.

He bowed to me in passing. It was not the bow of entreaty, but rather of gratitude-it seemed to thank me for what I had already given; but not to ask for

more.

I looked frowningly on him, and harshly bade him get out of my way.-What an inconsistent creature is man!

REMORSE.

HAGUE.

"AND is it thus," said I to myself, as the humble petitioner walked away," is it thus I behave towards the indigent and distressed? Is this conducting myself according to the principles of benevolence which I have so frequently laid down as the rule for others? Is this the philanthropy and charity which I have recommended to the attention and practice of all men?

-"But I will go this evening to the opera," said I"it is not improbable but that music will restore me to my natural complacency and good humour-we know its power in subduing and correcting the passions—

What passion cannot music raise and quell?

Neither are we ignorant of its influence on the manners; and that it will at once inspire pity, tenderness, and love."

I accordingly went to the opera. The music was by that admirable composer Gretri-I was delighted with it. It is really very surprising, thought I, as I walked from the theatre to the hotel, that the Dutch, who are

seemingly fond of music, and who are certainly good musicians, should not be more generally refined.

The "concord of sweet sounds" operates but little on the Bourgeoisie of the Hague.

THE REPULSE.

HAGUE.

I HAVE Somewhere met with a writer, who says, that he considers cleanliness as one of the half-virtues (as Aristotle very properly calls them, when speaking of some of our lesser perfections); a Dutchwoman certainly considers it as a whole one.

No person can be a greater admirer of cleanliness than I am in this country, however, it is undoubtedly carried to excess; and the simplex munditiis of Horace is scarcely ever to be seen. All, in short, is artful and laboured in the extreme.

Returning one morning from the parade, a shower of rain came on when I was about a quarter of a mile from home. I ran immediately towards a house, the door of which was standing invitingly open; but I had scarcely stepped on the threshold, when a number of women and children beset me, and insisted on my instantly turning out. In vain did I represent to them that I had a terrible cold, and that I should certainly be wet to the skin. It was no matter, they said—the house had just been cleaned, and was I to think of dirting it?" Non, non, sortez d'ici-sortez d'ici," cried they.

"Ma belle! m'amie!" cried I to a frightful old woman-"Ma petite mignonne!" said I to a young one:-but it was all to no effect; they armed themselves with brooms, &c. and actually thrust me into the

street.

"Was ever any thing so ridiculous!" said I, as I went dripping into the hotel.-Were a man triplebound in flannel, and his voice reduced to harsh whispers by a cold, they would inundate his room with water, and kill him to keep him clean.

CIVILITY.

HAGUE.

I HAD engaged a voiture de louage, in order to carry me to Haarlem.

And now, thought I, could I have the company of the petite Bourgeoise, I would endeavour to make atonement for my incivility to her at Briel. But she is married: it is therefore needless to think about it-the thing is altogether impracticable.

How very greatly a man may be mistaken in these matters!-Fortune, when I least expected it, was actually at work for me, and threw in my way a friend who removed the difficulty at once.

This friend was no other than the husband of the lady in question. He came to the door of the hotel at the moment I was coming out.

"I will show some little civility to M. le Mari, however," said I. So having acquainted him with my intended route, I asked him if he had any occasion for going by it, and offered him a seat in the coach.

He politely answered, that he had not; but that his wife had some particular business at the Blanchisserie at Haarlem ; and that if I would have the goodness to set her down

"Ah! de bon cœur," said I, interrupting him"J'aurai un vrai plaisir

I should have continued talking thus for at least a