that he was her Foster-Brother, and she believed
one of the honestest Fellows in the World.
    »And I'll swear,« cries Mrs. Ellison, »he is one of the prettiest - Do, Mr.
Booth, desire him to walk in. A Serjeant of the Guards is a Gentleman, and I had
rather give such a Man as you describe a Dish of Tea, than any Beau Fribble of
them all.«
    Booth wanted no great Solicitation to shew any kind of Regard to Atkinson;
and accordingly the Serjeant was ushered in, tho' not without some Reluctance on
his Side. There is perhaps nothing more uneasy than those Sensations which the
French call the mauvaise Honte, nor any more difficult to conquer; and poor
Atkinson would, I am persuaded, have mounted a Breach with less Concern, than he
shewed in walking cross a Room before three Ladies, two of whom were his avowed
well Wishers.
    Tho' I do not entirely agree with the late learned Mr. Essex the celebrated
Dancing-Master's Opinion, that Dancing is the Rudiment of polite Education, as
he would, I apprehend, exclude every other Art and Science; yet is it certain,
that Persons whose Feet have never been under the Hands of the Professors of
that Art, are apt to discover this Want in their Education in every Motion, nay,
even when they stand or sit still. They seem indeed to be over-burthened with
Limbs, which they know not how to use, as if when Nature hath finished her Work,
the Dancing-Master still is necessary to put it in Motion.
    Atkinson was at present an Example of this Observation, which doth so much
Honour to a Profession for which I have a very high Regard. He was handsome and
exquisitely well made; and yet, as he had never learnt to dance, he made so
awkward an Appearance in Mrs. Ellisons Parlour, that the good Lady herself, who
had invited him in, could at first scarce refrain from Laughter at his
Behaviour.
    He had not however been long in the Room, before Admiration of his Person
got the better of such risible Ideas. So great is the Advantage of Beauty in Men
as well as Women, and so sure is this Quality in either Sex of procuring some
Regard from the Beholder.
    The exceeding courteous Behaviour of Mrs. Ellison, joined to that of Amelia
and Booth, at length dissipated the Uneasiness of Atkinson; and he gained
sufficient Confidence to tell the Company some entertaining Stories of
Accidents, that had happened in the Army within his Knowledge; which tho