Lord G. If, Miss Byron, you know the truth, and can blame me—­

Har.  I blame you only, my lord, for being in a passion.  You see, my lady is serene:  she keeps her temper:  she looks as if she wanted to be friends with you.

Lord G. O that cursed serenity!—­When my soul is torn by a whirlwind—­

Lady G. A good tragedy rant!—­But, Harriet, you are mistaken:  My Lord G——­ is a very passionate man.  So humble, so—­what shall I call it? before marriage—­Did not the man see what a creature I was?—­To bear with me, when he had no obligation to me; and not now, when he has the highest—­A miserable sinking!—­O Harriet, Harriet!  Never, never marry!

Har.  Dear Lady G——­, you know in your own heart you are wrong—­Indeed you are wrong—­

Lord G. God for ever reward you, madam!—­I will tell you how it began—­

Lady G.  ‘Began!’ She knows that already, I tell you, my lord.  But what has passed within these four hours, she knows not:  you may entertain her with that, if you please.—­It was just about the time this day is a week, that we were altogether, mighty comfortably, at St. George’s, Hanover-square—­

Lord G. Every tittle of what you promised there, madam—­

Lady G. And I, my lord, could be your echo in this, were I not resolved to keep my temper, as you cannot but say I have done, all along.

Lord G. You could not, madam, if you did not despise me.

Lady G. You are wrong, my lord, to think so:  but you don’t believe yourself:  if you did, the pride of your heart ought not to permit you to own it.

Lord G. Miss Byron, give me leave—­

Lady G. Lord bless me! that people are so fond of exposing themselves!  Had you taken my advice, when you pursued me out of my dressing-room into company—­My lord, said I, as mildly as I now speak, Don’t expose yourself.  But he was not at all the wiser for my advice.

Lord G. Miss Byron, you see—­But I had not come down but to make my compliments to you.  He bowed, and was about to withdraw.

I took him by the sleeve—­My lord, you must not go.  Lady G——­, if your own heart justifies you for your part in this misunderstanding, say so; I challenge you to say so.—­She was silent.

Har.  If otherwise, own your fault, promise amendment—­ask pardon.

Lady G. Hey-day!

Har.  And my lord will ask yours, for mistaking you—­For being too easily provoked—­

Lord G. Too easily, madam—­