After this we went to tea.  When that was over, and we all returned to the ball-room, Captain Bouchier followed me, and again took a seat next mine, which he kept, without once moving, the whole night.

He again applied to me to dance, but I was more steady than Charlotte; and he was called upon, and reproached by Captain Brisbane and others for sitting still when there were so few dancers; but he told them he could not endure being

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pressed into the service, or serving at all under the master of the ceremonies.

Well, I have no more time for particulars, though we had much more converse ; for so it happened that we talked all the evening almost together, as Mrs. Thrale and Mrs. Byron were engaged with each other:  Miss Thrale, who did not dance, was fairly jockeyed out of her place next me by Captain Bouchier, and the other young ladies were with their partners.  Before we broke up, this captain asked me if I should be at the play next night?—­“Yes,” I could not but say, as we had had places taken some time; but I did not half like it, for his manner of asking plainly implied, “If you go, why I will!”

When we made our exit, he saw me safe out of the rooms, with as much attention as if we had actually been partners.  As we were near home we did not get into chairs; and Mr. Travell joined us in our walk.

“Why, what a flirtationcried Mrs. Thrale; “why, Burney, this is a man of taste!—­Pray, Mr. Travell, will it do?  What has he.”

“Twenty thousand pounds, ma’am,” answered the beau.

“O ho! has he so?—­Well, well, we’ll think of It.”

Finding her so facetious, I determined not to acquaint her with the query concerning the play, knowing that, if I did, and he appeared there, she would be outrageous in merriment.  She is a most dear creature, but never restrains her tongue in anything, nor, indeed, any of her feelings:—­she laughs, cries, scolds, sports, reasons, makes fun,—­does everything she has an inclination to do, without any study of prudence, or thought of blame; and pure and artless as is this character, it often draws both herself and others into scrapes, which a little discretion would avoid.

Furtherflirtations.

Saturday morning I spent in visiting.  At dinner we had Mrs. Lambart and Colonel Campbell.  All the discourse was upon Augusta Byron’s having made a conquest of Captain Brisbane, and the match was soon concluded upon,—­at least, they all allowed it would be decided this night, when she was to go with us to the play; and if Captain Brisbane was there, why then he was in for it, and the thing was done.

Well—­Augusta came at the usual time; Colonel Campbell took leave, but Mrs. Lambart accompanied us to the play:  188

and, in the lobby, the first object we saw was Captain Brisbane.  He immediately advanced to us, and, joining our party, followed us into our box.