He could say nothing to this, you know.  And I should never forgive the husband, as I told him, on another occasion, who would pretend to argue, when he had nothing to say.

Then (for the baby will be always craving something) he wanted me to go abroad with him—­I forget whither—­But to some place that he supposed (poor man!) I should like to visit.  I told him, I dared to say, he wished to be thought a modern husband, and a fashionable man; and he would get a bad name, if he could never stir out without his wife.  Neither could he answer that, you know.

Well, we went on, mutter, mutter, grumble, grumble, the thunder rolling at a distance; a little impatience now and then, however, portending, that it would come nearer.  But, as yet, it was only, Pray, my dear, oblige me; and, Pray, my lord, excuse me; till this morning, when he had the assurance to be pretty peremptory; hinting, that the lord in waiting had been spoken to.  A fine time of it would a wife have, if she were not at liberty to dress herself as she pleases.  Were I to choose again, I do assure you, my dear, it should not be a man, who by his taste for moths and butterflies, shells, china, and such-like trifles, would give me warning, that he would presume to dress his baby, and when he had done, would perhaps admire his own fancy more than her person.  I believe, my Harriet, I shall make you afraid of matrimony:  but I will pursue my subject, for all that—­

When the insolent saw that I did not dress, as he would have had me; he drew out his face, glouting, to half the length of my arm; but was silent.  Soon after Lady L——­ sending to know whether her lord and she were to attend us to the drawing-room, and I returning for answer, that I should be glad of their company at dinner; he was in violent wrath.  True, as you are alive! and dressing himself in a great hurry, left the house, without saying, By your leave, With your leave, or whether he would return to dinner, or not.  Very pretty doings, Harriet!

Lord and Lady L——­ came to dinner, however.  I thought they were very kind, and, till they opened their lips, was going to thank them:  for then, it was all elder sister, and insolent brother-in-law, I do assure you.  Upon my word, Harriet, they took upon them.  Lady L——­ told me, I might be the happiest creature in the world, if—­and there was so good as to stop.

One of the happiest only, Lady L——!  Who can be happier than you?

But I, said she, should neither be so, nor deserve to be so, if—­Good of her again, to stop at if.

We cannot be all of one mind, replied I. I shall be wiser, in time.

Where was poor Lord G——­ gone?

Poor Lord G——­ is gone to seek his fortune, I believe.

What did I mean?

I told them the airs he had given himself; and that he was gone without leave, or notice of return.

He had served me right, ab-solutely right, Lord L——­ said.