Lord bless me, said she, returning to the card-table with a gay unconcern, what strange passionate creatures are these men!

Charlotte, said Lady L——­, I wonder at you.

Then I give you joy—­

What do you mean, sister?—­

We women love wonder, and the wonderful!

Surely, Lady G——­, said Lord L——­, you are wrong.

I give your lordship joy, too.

On what?

That my sister is always right.

Indeed, madam, were I Lord G——­, I should have no patience.

A good hint for you, Lady L——.  I hope you will take this for a warning, and be good.

When I behave as you do, Charlotte—­

I understand you, Lady L——­, you need not speak out—­Every one in their way.

You would not behave thus, were my brother—­

Perhaps not.

Dear Charlotte, you are excessively wrong.

So I think, returned she.

Why then do you not—­

Mend, Lady L——?  All in good time.

Her woman came in with a message, expressing her lord’s desire to see her.—­The deuce is in these men!  They will neither be satisfied with us, nor without us.  But I am all obedience:  no vow will I break—­And out she went.

Lord G——­ not returning presently, and Lord and Lady L——­’s chariot being come, they both took this opportunity, in order to shew their displeasure, to go away without taking leave of their sister.  Dr. Bartlett retired to his apartment.  And when Lady G——­ came down, she was surprised, and a little vexed, to find only Emily there.  Lord G——­ came in at another door—­Upon my word, my Lord, this is strange behaviour in you:  you fright away, with your husband-like airs, all one’s company.

Good God!—­I am astonished at you, madam.

What signifies your astonishment?—­when you have scared every body out of the house.

I, madam!

You, sir!  Yes, you!—­Did you not lord it over me in my dressing-room?—­ To be easy and quiet, did I not fly to our company in the drawing-room?  Did you not follow me there—­with looks—­very pretty looks for a new-married man, I assure you!  Then did you not want to take me aside—­ Would not anybody have supposed it was to express your sorrow for your odd behaviour?  Was I not all obedience?—­Did you not, with very mannish airs, slight me for my compliance, and fly out of the room?  All the company could witness the calmness with which I returned to them, that they might not be grieved for me; nor think our misunderstanding a deep one.  Well, then, when your stomach came down, as I supposed, you sent for me out:  no doubt, thought I, to express his concern now.—­I was all obedience again.

And did I not beseech you, madam—­

Beseech me, my lord!—­Yes—­But with such looks!—­I married, sir, let me tell you, a man with another face—­See, see, Emily—­He is gone again.—­

My lord flew out of the room in a rage.—­O these men, my dear! said she to Emily.