“How nicely these men domesticate among us, Miss Burney!  Why, they take to us as natural as life!”

“Well, well,” cried Mr. Crutchley, “I have sent for my horse, and I shall release you early to-morrow morning, I think yonder comes Sir Philip."(136)

“Oh! you’ll have enough to do with him,” cried she, laughing; “he is well prepared to plague you, I assure you.”

“Is he?—­and what about?”

“Why, about Miss Burney.  He asked me the other day what was my present establishment.  ‘Mr. Crutchley and Miss Burney,’ I answered.  ‘How well those two names go together,’ cried he; ’I think they can’t do better than make a match of it:  I will consent, I am sure,’ he added; and to-day, I dare say, you will hear enough of it.”

I leave you to judge if I was pleased at this stuff thus communicated; but Mrs. Thrale, with all her excellence, can give up no occasion of making sport, however unseasonable, or even painful.

" I am very much obliged to him, indeed cried I, dryly; and Mr. Crutchley called out, “Thank him !-thank him! " in a voice of pride and of pique that spoke him mortally angry.

I instantly came into the house, leaving him to talk it out with Mrs. Thrale, to whom I heard him add, “So this is Sir Philip’s kindness!” and her answer, “I wish you no worse luck!”

Now, what think you of this? was it not highly insolent?—­and from a man who has behaved to me hitherto with the utmost deference, good-nature, and civility, and given me a thousand reasons, by every possible opportunity, to think myself very high indeed in his good opinion and good graces?  But these rich men think themselves the constant prey of all portionless girls, and are always upon their guard, and suspicious of some design to take them in.  This sort of disposition I had very early observed in Mr. Crutchley, and therefore I had been more distant and cold with him than with anybody I ever met with ; but latterly his character had risen so much in my mind, and his behaviour was so much improved, that I had let things take their own course, and no more shunned than I sought him; for I evidently saw his doubts concerning me and my plots were

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all at an end, and his civility and attentions were daily increasing, so that I had become very comfortable with him, and well pleased with his society.

I need not, I think, add that I determined to see as little of this most fearful and haughty gentleman in future as was in my power, since no good qualities can compensate for such arrogance of suspicion; and, therefore, as I had reason enough to suppose he would, in haste, resume his own reserve, I resolved, without much effort, to be beforehand with him in resuming mine.

Miss Burney sulks on.

At dinner we had a large and most disagreeable party of Irish ladies, whom Mrs. Thrale was necessitated to invite from motives of business and various connections.