I said, Mr. B.’s friends were always welcome to me.

“Tis well, Madam,” said Mr. Sedley, “we did not know how it was.  We should have quartered ourselves upon Mr. B. for a week together, and kept him up day and night.”

I thought this speech deserved no answer, especially as they were gentlemen who wanted no countenance, and addressed myself to Lord Davers, who is always kindly making court to me:  “I hope, my good lord, you find yourself quite recovered of your head-ache?” (of which he complained at breakfast).

“I thank you, my dear sister, pretty well.”

“I was telling Sir Charles and the other gentlemen, niece,” said Sir Jacob, “how I was cheated here, when I came first, with a Lady Jenny.”

“It was a very lucky cheat for me, Sir Jacob; for it gave you a prepossession in my favour under so advantageous a character, that I could never have expected otherwise.”

“I wish,” said the countess, “my daughter, for whom Sir Jacob took you, had Mrs. B.’s qualities to boast of.”—­“How am I obliged to your ladyship’s goodness,” returned I, “when you treat me with even greater indulgence than you use to so beloved a daughter!”

“Nay, now you talk of treating,” said Sir Charles, “when, ladies, will you treat our sex with the politeness which you shew to one another?”

“When your sex deserve it, Sir Charles,” answered Lady Davers.

“Who is to be judge of that?” said Mr. Walgrave.

“Not the gentlemen, I hope,” replied my lady.

“Well then, Mrs. B.,” said Sir Charles, “we bespeak your good opinion of us; for you have ours.”

“I am obliged to you, gentlemen; but I must be more cautious in declaring mine, lest it should be thought I am influenced by your kind, and perhaps too hasty, opinions of me.”

Sir Charles swore they had seen enough of me the moment I entered the parlour, and heard enough the moment I opened my lips to answer for their opinions of me.

I said, I made no doubt, when they had as good a subject to expatiate upon, as I had, in the pleasure before me, of seeing so many agreeable friends of Mr. B.’s, they would maintain the title they claimed of every one’s good opinion.

“This,” said Sir Jacob, “is binding you over, gentlemen, to your good behaviour.  You must know, my niece never shoots flying, as you do.”

The gentlemen laughed:  “Is it shooting flying, Sir Jacob,” returned Sir Charles, “to praise that lady?”

“Ads-bud, I did not think of that.”

“Sir Jacob,” said the countess, “you need not be at a fault;—­for a good sportsman always hits his mark, flying or not; and the gentlemen had so fair an one, that they could not well miss it.”

“You are fairly helped over the stile, Sir Jacob,” said Mr. Floyd.