“You were the other day more charming than all the fair women in the world:  you looked yesterday still more fair than you did the day before:  if you go on, what will become of my heart?  But it is a long time since that has been a prey to your pretty little young wild boar’s eyes.  Shall you be at the masquerade to-morrow?  But can there be any charms at an entertainment, at which you are not present?  It does not signify:  I shall know you in whatever disguise you may be:  but I shall be better informed of my fate, by the present I send you:  you will wear knots of this riband in your hair; and these gloves will kiss the most beautiful hands in the universe.”

This billet, with the present, was delivered to Miss Blague with the same success as the other had been conveyed to Lady Muskerry.  Miss Hamilton had just received an account of it, when the latter came to pay her a visit:  something seemed to possess her thoughts very much; when, having stayed some time, her cousin desired her to walk into her cabinet.  As soon as they were there:  “I desire your secrecy for what I am going to tell you,” said Lady Muskerry.  “Do not you wonder what strange creatures men are?  Do not trust to them, my dear cousin:  my Lord Muskerry, who, before our marriage, could have passed whole days and nights in seeing me dance, thinks proper now to forbid me dancing, and says it does not become me.  This is not all:  he has so often rung in my ears the subject of this masquerade, that I am obliged to hide from him the honour the queen has done me, in inviting me to it.  However, I am surprised I am not informed who is to be my partner:  but if you knew what a plague it is, to find out, in this cursed town, in what manner the people of Babylon dress, you would pity me for what I have suffered since the time I have been appointed:  besides, the cost which it puts me to is beyond all imagination.”

Here it was that Miss Hamilton’s inclination to laugh, which had increased in proportion as she endeavoured to suppress it, at length overcame her, and broke out in an immoderate fit:  Lady Muskerry took it in good humour, not doubting but it was the fantastical conduct of her husband that she was laughing at.  Miss Hamilton told her that all husbands were much the same, and that one ought not to be concerned at their whims; that she did not know who was to be her partner at the masquerade; but that, as she was named, the gentleman named with her would certainly not fail to attend her; although she could not comprehend why he had not yet declared himself, unless he likewise had some fantastical spouse, who had forbid him to dance.