Sir Charles returned to dinner.  He has told Lady L——­, who afterwards told us, that he had a hint from Mr. Galliard, senior, that if he were not engaged in his affections, he was commissioned to make him a very great proposal in behalf of one of the young ladies he had seen the Thursday before; and that from her father.

Surely, Lucy, we may pronounce without doubt, that we live in an age in which there is a great dearth of good men, that so many offers fall to the lot of one.  But, I am thinking, ’tis no small advantage to Sir Charles, that his time is so taken up, that he cannot stay long enough in any company to suffer them to cast their eyes on other objects, with distinction.  He left the numerous assembly at Enfield, while they were in the height of their admiration of him.  Attention, love, admiration, cannot be always kept at the stretch.  You will observe, Lucy, that on the return of a long-absent dear friend, the rapture lasts not more than an hour:  gladdened, as the heart is, the friend received, and the friends receiving, perhaps in less than that time, can sit down quietly together, to hear and to tell stories, of what has happened to either in the long regretted absence.  It will be so with us, Lucy, when I return to the arms of my kind friends:  and now, does not Sir Charles’s proposed journey to Italy endear his company to us?

The Earl of G——­, Lady Gertrude, and two agreeable nieces of that nobleman’s, were here at dinner.  Lady G——­ behaved pretty well to her lord before them:  but I, who understood the language of her eyes, saw them talk very saucily to him, on several occasions.  My lord is a little officious in his obligingness; which takes off from that graceful, that polite frankness, which so charmingly, on all occasions, distinguishes one happy man, who was then present.  Lord G——­ will perhaps appear more to advantage in that person’s absence.

Mr. Beauchamp was also present.  He is indeed an agreeable, a modest young man.  He appeared to great advantage, as well in his conversation, as by his behaviour:  and not the less for subscribing in both to the superiority of his friend; who, nevertheless, endeavoured to draw him out as the first man.

After dinner, Lady L——­, Lady G——­, and I, found an opportunity to be by ourselves for one half hour.  Lady G——­ asked Lady L——­ what she intended to do with the thousand pounds with which Lord W——­ had so generously presented her?—­Do with it, my dear!—­What do you think I intend to do with it?—­It is already disposed of.

I’ll be hanged, said Lady G——­, if this good creature has not given it to her husband.

Indeed, Charlotte, I have.  I gave it to him before I slept.

I thought so!  She laughed—­And Lord L——­ took it!  Did he?

To be sure he did.  I should otherwise have been displeased with him.

Dear, good soul!—­And so you gave him a thousand pounds to take part of it back from him, by four or five paltry guineas at a time, at his pleasure?