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VIVIAN GREY.
155

not yet unravelled it. Come, there's Washington Irving's autograph for you; read it, isn't it quite in character? Shall I write any more? One of Sir Walter's, or Mr. Southey's, or Mr. Milman's, or Mr. D'Israeli's? or shall I sprawl a Byron?"

"Mr. Grey! I really cannot patronize such unprincipled conduct. You may make me one of Sir Walter's, however."

"Poor Washington, poor Washington!" said Vivian, writing; "I knew him well in London. He always slept at dinner. One day as he was dining at Mr. Hallam's, they took him, when asleep, to Lady Jersey's rout; and, to see the Sieur Geoffrey, when he opened his eyes in the illumined saloons, was really quite admirable! quite an Arabian tale!"

"Oh, how delightful! I should have so liked to have seen him! He seems quite forgotten now in England. How came we to talk of him?"