The bishop is a well-looking man, and seemed grave, quiet, and sensible.  I have heard much more of him, but nothing more appeared.  Miss Georgiana, however, was showy enough for two.  She is a very tall and rather handsome girl; but the expression of her face is, to me, disagreeable.  She has almost a constant smile, not of softness, nor of insipidity, but of selfsufficiency and internal satisfaction.  She is very much accomplished, and her fame for painting and for scholarship, I know You are well acquainted with.  I believe her to have very good parts and much quickness , but she is so full of herself, so 230

earnest to obtain notice, and so happy in her confidence of deserving it, that I have been not less charmed with any youn lady I have seen for many a day.  I have met with her before, at Mrs. Pepys’, but never before was introduced to her.

Miss Palmer soon joined us ; and, in a short time, entered more company,—­three gentlemen and one lady; but there was no more ceremony used of introductions.  The lady, I concluded was Mrs. Burke, wife of the Mr. Burke, and was not mistaken.

One of the gentlemen I recollected to be young Burke, her son, whom I once met at Sir Joshua’s in town, and another of them I knew for Mr. Gibbon:  but the third I had never seen before.  I had been told that the Burke was not expected yet I could conclude this gentleman to be no other; he had just the air, the manner, the appearance, I had prepared myself to look for in him, and there was an evident, a striking superiority in his demeanour, his eye, his motions, that announced him no common man.

I could not get at Miss Palmer to satisfy my doubts, and we were soon called downstairs to dinner.  Sir Joshua and the “unknown” stopped to speak with one another upon the stairs; and, when they followed us, Sir Joshua, in taking his place at the table, asked me to sit next to him; I willingly complied.  “And then,” he added, “Mr. Burke shall sit on the other side of you.”  “Oh, no, indeed!” cried Miss Georgiana, who also had placed herself next Sir Joshua; “I won’t consent to that; Mr. Burke must sit next me; I won’t agree to part with him.  Pray, come and sit down quiet, Mr. Burke.”

Mr. Burke,-for him it was,-smiled and obeyed.

“I only meant,” said Sir Joshua, “to have made my peace with Mr. Burke, by giving him that place, because he has been scolding me for not introducing him to Miss Burney.  However, I must do it now;—­Mr. Burke!—­Miss Burney!”

We both half rose, and Mr. Burke said,—­

" I have been complaining to Sir Joshua that he left me wholly to my own sagacity; however, it did not here deceive me.”

" Oh dear, then,” said Miss Georgiana, looking a little consternated, “perhaps you won’t thank me for calling you to this place!”

Nothing was said, and so we all began dinner,-youngBurke making himself my next neighbour. 231

Captain Phillips(149) knows Mr. Burke.  Has he or has he not told you how delightful a creature he is?  If he has not, pray in my name, abuse him without mercy; if he has, pray ask if he will subscribe to my account of him, which herewith shall follow.