A gentleman, who, after a chace of ten hours, had taken shelter under the roof of Sir James, was, at our return, stamping up and down, the vestibule, disappointed both in his sport and dinner, shew’d an aspect cloudy as the heavens.—­My mortification was scarce supportable, when I heard him roar out, in a voice like thunder, What the devil have we here?—­I sprang to the top of the stairs in a moment,—­there stopp’d to fetch breath; and again the same person, who had so genteelly accosted me, said to Lord Darcey,—­Great improvements, upon my soul!—­You are return’d a mighty pretty Miss.—­What, is this the newest dress at Turin?—­I heard no more; her Ladyship’s woman came and shew’d me to an apartment,—­bringing from her Lady’s wardrobe a chints negligee, and a suit of flower’d muslin; in which I was soon equipp’d.

Lady Powis sent to desire I would come to her dressing room; and, embracing me as I entered, said, with, an air of charming freedom, If you are not hurt, my dear, by our little excursion, I shall be quite in spirits this evening.

I am only hurt by your Ladyship’s goodness.  Indeed, return’d she, I have not a close heart, but no one ever found so quick a passage to it as yourself.—­Oh!  Lady Mary, this is surely a heart like yours!—­A heart like Mrs. Whitmore’s!—­Was you not surpris’d, my dear, continued her Ladyship, to be so accosted by the gentleman below?—­Take no notice of what is said by Mr. Morgan.—­that is his name;—­he means well, and never goes into any person’s house, but where his oddities are indulg’d.—­I am particularly civil to him; he was an old school-fellow of Sir James’s, one whose purse was always open to him.—­Sir James, Miss Warley, was rather addicted to extravagance in the beginning of his life;—­that, in some respects, is revers’d latterly.—­I have been a sufferer,—­yet is he a tender generous husband.  One day you shall know more.—­I had a son, Miss Warley—­Here Sir James interrupted her.—­I come to tell you, said he, that Lord Darcey and myself are impatient for our tea.

O fie!  Sir James, return’d Lady Powis, talk of impatience before an unmarried Lady!—­If you go on at this rate, you will frighten her from any connection with your sex.—­Not at all,—­not at all, said Sir James; you take us for better for worse.—­See there, Miss Warley smiles.—­I warrant she does not think my impatience unseasonable.—­I was going to reply, but effectually stopped by her Ladyship, who said, taking my hand, Come, my dear, let us go down.—­I am fond of finding excuses for Sir James; we will suppose it was not he who was impatient:—­we will suppose the impatience to be Lord Darcey’s.