Lady Sarah, I soon found, was raised to this visit by Lady Betty; who has health enough to allow her to look out to herself, and out of her own affairs, for business.  Yet congratulation to Lord M. on his amendment, [spiteful devils on both accounts!] was the avowed errand.  But coming in my absence, I was their principal subject; and they had opportunity to set each other’s heart against me.

Simon Parsons hinted this to me, as I passed by the steward’s office; for it seems they talked loud; and he was making up some accounts with old Pritchard.

However, I hastened to pay my duty to them—­other people not performing theirs, is no excuse for the neglect of our own, you know.

      And now I enter upon my trial.

With horrible grave faces was I received.  The two antiquities only bowed their tabby heads; making longer faces than ordinary; and all the old lines appearing strong in their furrowed foreheads and fallen cheeks; How do you, Cousin?  And how do you, Mr. Lovelace? looking all round at one another, as who should say, do you speak first:  and, do you:  for they seemed resolved to lose no time.

I had nothing for it, but an air as manly, as theirs was womanly.  Your servant, Madam, to Lady Betty; and, Your servant, Madam, I am glad to see you abroad, to Lady Sarah.

I took my seat.  Lord M. looked horribly glum; his fingers claspt, and turning round and round, under and over, his but just disgouted thumb; his sallow face, and goggling eyes, on his two kinswomen, by turns; but not once deigning to look upon me.

Then I began to think of the laudanum, and wet cloth, I told thee of long ago; and to call myself in question for a tenderness of heart that will never do me good.

At last, Mr. Lovelace!——­Cousin Lovelace!——­Hem!—­Hem!—­I am sorry, very sorry, hesitated Lady Sarah, that there is no hope of your ever taking up——­

What’s the matter now, Madam?

The matter now!——­Why Lady Betty has two letters from Miss Harlowe, which have told us what’s the matter——­Are all women alike with you?

Yes; I could have answered; ’bating the difference which pride makes.

Then they all chorus’d upon me—­Such a character as Miss Harlowe’s! cried one——­A lady of so much generosity and good sense!  Another—­How charmingly she writes! the two maiden monkeys, looking at her find handwriting:  her perfections my crimes.  What can you expect will be the end of these things! cried Lady Sarah—­d——­d, d——­d doings! vociferated the Peer, shaking his loose-fleshe’d wabbling chaps, which hung on his shoulders like an old cow’s dewlap.

For my part, I hardly knew whether to sing or say what I had to reply to these all-at-once attacks upon me!-Fair and softly, Ladies—­one at a time, I beseech you.  I am not to be hunted down without being heard, I hope.  Pray let me see these letters.  I beg you will let me see them.