THEVERYFRIENDLYYOUNGGENTLEMAN
Weknow—andallpeopleknow—somanyspecimensofthisclass，thatinselectingthefewheadsourlimitsenableustotakefromagreatnumber，wehavebeeninducedtogivetheveryfriendlyyounggentlemanthepreferenceovermanyothers，towhoseclaimsuponamorecursoryviewofthequestionwehadfeltdisposedtoassignthepriority。
Theveryfriendlyyounggentlemanisveryfriendlytoeverybody，butheattacheshimselfparticularlytotwo，oratmosttothreefamilies:regulatinghischoicebytheirdinners，theircircleofacquaintance，orsomeothercriterioninwhichhehasanimmediateinterest。Heisofanyagebetweentwentyandforty，unmarriedofcourse，mustbefondofchildren，andisexpectedtomakehimselfgenerallyusefulifpossible。Letusillustrateourmeaningbyanexample，whichistheshortestmodeandtheclearest。
Weencounteredoneday，bychance，anoldfriendofwhomwehadlostsightforsomeyears，andwho—expressingastronganxietytorenewourformerintimacy—urgedustodinewithhimonanearlyday，thatwemighttalkoveroldtimes。Wereadilyassented，adding，thatwehopedweshouldbealone。’Oh，certainly，certainly，’saidourfriend，’notasoulwithusbutMincin。’’AndwhoisMincin？’wasournaturalinquiry。’Odon’tmindhim，’
repliedourfriend，’he’samostparticularfriendofmine，andaveryfriendlyfellowyouwillfindhim;’andsoheleftus。