“No, madam:  she preferred to remain at Hyde, and I have no happiness beyond her desire.”

“Here’s flame!  Here’s constancy!  And you have been married a whole year!  I am struck with admiration.”

“A whole year—­a year of divine happiness, I assure you.”

“Lord, sir!  You will be the laughing-stock of the town if you talk in such fashion.  They will have you in the play-houses.  Pray let us forget our domestic joys a little.  I hear, however, that your divinity is rich.”

“She is not poor; though if”—­

“Though if she had been a beggar-girl you would have married her, rags and all.  Swear to that, Dick, especially when she brings you fifty thousand pounds.  I’m very much obliged to her; you can hardly, for shame, put your fingers in my poor purse now, sir.  And you can make a good figure in the world; and as your cousin Arabella Suffolk is staying with me, you will be the properest gallant for her when Sir Thomas is at the House.”

“I am at yours and cousin Arabella’s service, grandmother.”

“Exactly so, Captain; only no more quarrelling and fighting.  Learn your catechism, or Dr. Watts, or somebody.  Remember that we have now a bishop in the family.  And I am getting old, and want to be at peace with the whole world, if you will let me.”

Hyde laughed merrily.  “Why, grandmother, such advice from you!  I don’t trust it.  There never was a more perfect hater than yourself.”

“I know, Dick.  I used to say, ’Lord, this person is so bad, and that person is so bad, I hate them!’ But at last I found out that every one was bad:  so I hate nobody.  One cannot take a sword and run the whole town through.  I have seen some very religious people lately; and you will find me very serious, and much improved.  Come and go as you please, Dick:  Arabella and you can be perfectly happy, I dare say, without minding me.”

“What is the town doing now?”

“Oh, balls and dances and weddings and other follies!  Thank the moon, men and women never get weary of these things!”

“Then you have not ceased to enjoy them, I hope.”

“I still take my share.  Old fools will hobble after young ones.  I ride a little, and visit a little, and have small societies quite to my taste.  And I have my four kings and aces; that is saying everything.  I want you to go to all the diversions, Dick; and pray tell me what they say of me behind my back.  I like to know how much I annoy people.”

“I shall not listen to anything unflattering, I assure you.”

“La, Dick, you can’t fight a rout of women and men about your grandmother!  I don’t want you to fight, not even if they talk about Arabella and you.  It is none of their business; and as for Sir Thomas Suffolk, he hears nothing outside the House, and he thinks every Whig in England is watching him—­a pompous old fool!”

“Oh, indeed!  I had an idea that he was a very merry fellow.”