Mr. Martin whispered—­“It is more, however, to admire your lady, I can tell you that, than your wine.-Get into your coaches, ladies,” said he, with his usual freedom; “our maiden and widow ladies have a fine time of it, wherever you come:  by my faith they must every one of them quit this neighbourhood, if you were to stay in it:  but all their hopes are, that while you are in London, they’ll have the game in their own hands.”—­“Sister,” said Lady Davers, most kindly to me, in presence of many, who (in a respectful manner) gathered near us, “Mr. Martin is the same gentleman he used to be, I see.”

“Mr. Martin, Madam,” said I, smiling, “has but one fault:  he is too apt to praise whom he favours, at the expense of his absent friends.”

“I am always proud of your reproofs, Mrs. B.,” replied he.-"Ay,” said Lady Towers, “that I believe.—­And, therefore, I wish, for all our sakes, you’d take him oftener to task, Mrs. B.”

Lady Towers, Lady Arthur, Mrs. Brooks, and Mr. Martin, all claimed visits from us; and Mr. B. making excuses, that he must husband his time, being obliged to go to town soon, proposed to breakfast with Lady Towers the next morning, dine with Mrs. Arthur, and sup with Mrs. Brooks; and as there cannot be a more social and agreeable neighbourhood any where, his proposal, after some difficulty, was accepted; and our usual visiting neighbours were all to have notice accordingly, at each of the places.

I saw Sir Thomas Atkyns coming towards us, and fearing to be stifled with compliments, I said—­“Your servant, ladies and gentlemen;” and giving my hand to Lord Davers, stept into the chariot, instead of the coach; for people that would avoid bustle, sometimes make it.  Finding my mistake, I would have come out, but my lord said, “Indeed you shan’t:  for I’ll step in, and have you all to myself.”

Lady Davers smiled—­“Now,” said she (while the coach drew up), “is my Lord Davers pleased;—­but I see, sister, you were tired with part of your company in the coach.”—­“’Tis well contrived, my dear,” said Mr. B., “as long as you have not deprived me of this honour;” taking the countess’s hand, and leading her into the coach.

Will you excuse all this impertinence, my dear?—­I know my father and mother will be pleased with it; and you will therefore bear with me; for their kind hearts will be delighted to hear every minute thing in relation to Lady Davers and myself.—­When Mr. Martin came in the evening, with his friend (who is Sir William G., a polite young gentleman of Lincolnshire), he told us of the praises lavished away upon me by several genteel strangers; one saying to his friend, he had travelled twenty miles to see me.—­My Lady Davers was praised too for her goodness to me, and the gracefulness of her person; the countess for the noble serenity of her aspect, and that charming ease and freedom, which distinguished her birth and quality.  My dear Mr. B., he said, was greatly