Col.  That is spoken as I wish the man to speak whom I should be pleased to call my friend, if all his actions were of a piece; and as I would have the man speak whom I would think it worth my while to call my foe.  I love a man of spirit, as I love my soul.  But, Mr. Lovelace, as my Lord thinks we aim at one mark, let me say, that were we permitted to be alone for six minutes, I dare say, we should soon understand one another perfectly well.—­And he moved to the door.

Lovel.  I am entirely of your opinion, Sir; and will attend you.

My Lord rung, and stept between us:  Colonel, return, I beseech you return, said he:  for he had stept out of the room while my Lord held me—­ Nephew, you shall not go out.

The bell and my Lord’s raised voice brought in Mowbray, and Clements, my Lord’s gentleman; the former in his careless way, with his hands behind him, What’s the matter, Bobby?  What’s the matter, my Lord?

Only, only, only, stammered the agitated peer, these young gentlemen are, are, are—­are young gentlemen, that’s all.—­Pray, Colonel Morden, [who again entered the room with a sedater aspect,] let this cause have a fair trial, I beseech you.

Col.  With all my heart, my Lord.

Mowbray whispered me, What is the cause, Bobby?—­Shall I take the gentleman to task for thee, my boy?

Not for the world, whispered I. The Colonel is a gentleman, and I desire you’ll not say one word.

Well, well, well, Bobby, I have done.  I can turn thee loose to the best man upon God’s earth; that’s all, Bobby; strutting off to the other end of the room.

Col.  I am sorry, my Lord, I should give your Lordship the least uneasiness.  I came not with such a design.

Lord M. Indeed, Colonel, I thought you did, by your taking fire so quickly.  I am glad to hear you say you did not.  How soon a little spark kindles into a flame; especially when it meets with such combustible spirits!

Col.  If I had had the least thought of proceeding to extremities, I am sure Mr. Lovelace would have given me the honour of a meeting where I should have been less an intruder:  but I came with an amicable intention; to reconcile differences rather than to widen them.

Lovel.  Well then, Colonel Morden, let us enter upon the subject in your own way.  I don’t know the man I should sooner choose to be upon terms with than one whom Miss Clarissa Harlowe so much respects.  But I cannot bear to be treated, either in word or accent, in a menacing way.

Lord M. Well, well, well, well, gentlemen, this is somewhat like.  Angry men make to themselves beds of nettles, and, when they lie down in them, are uneasy with every body.  But I hope you are friends.  Let me hear you say you are.  I am persuaded, Colonel, that you don’t know all this unhappy story.  You don’t know how desirous my kinsman is, as well as all of us, to have this matter end happily.  You don’t know, do you, Colonel, that Mr. Lovelace, at all our requests, is disposed to marry the lady?