_Alterations_, Madam! I reply'd;--upon my honour, they are _so_ visible, no person can avoid being struck with them.--How could your father and mother, Sir Harry, bear to live in such an wood? looking and speaking disdainfully.--He smiled obsequious--hemm'd--trembled, and was silent.--I hope, continued she, not to see a tree remaining near this house before the next summer.--We want much, Mr. Molesworth, turning to me with quite a different look and voice, to have the pleasure-ground laid out:--but really her Ladyship has had so much to set in order _within doors_, that it has taken off her attention a good deal from what is necessary to be done _without_.--However, Sir, you shall see our design; so, my dear, speaking to her daughter, let Sir Harry fetch the plan. It is in my closet, returned her Ladyship, and I don't chuse to send _him_ there;--but I'll ring for Sally. I had like that moment to have vow'd a life of celibacy--I saw him redden;--how could he avoid it, if one spark of manhood remain'd? The indignation I felt threw such a mist before my eyes, that when the plan was laid on the table, I could scarce distinguish temples from clumps of shrubs, or Chinese seats from green slopes.--Yet this _reptile_ of a husband could look over my shoulder, hear the opinion of every one present, without _daring_ to give his own. I was more out of patience at dinner.--Bless me, says her Ladyship, how _aukward_ you are when I _bid_ you cut up any thing!--the mother and daughter echoing, _Never_ was there _such_ a carver as _Sir Harry!_--Well, I vow, cry'd the latter, it is a strange thing you will not remember, so often as I have _told you_, to lay the meat handsome in the dish. Good God! thought I, can this man live out half his days?--And, faith, if I had not drank five bumpers of Madeira, I could not have stood the sight of his fearful countenance. He perceived I was distress'd, and whisper'd me as I mounted my horse,--You see how it is, Molesworth; breeding women _must_ not be contradicted.-- _I do, I do_ see how it is, return'd I; and could not for my soul forbear saying, I shall rejoice to hear of a _delivery_. This is the day when the important affairs of the m----y are to be settled; the papers will inform you; but can a man in love have any relish for politics?--Pray, divest yourself of that plague, when you attend the house.--I should drop to hear you say you espouse _this_ or _that_ cause, for the love of _Miss Warley_, instead of your _country_. _Next Friday!_--Well, I long to see you after a dreadful, dreadful absence of _eight days_.--There is something confounded ridiculous in all this stuff; nor can I scarce credit that man should pine, fret, and make himself unhappy, because he is loosed from the apron-strings of his Phillida for a few days.--I see you shrug;--but my fate is not dependent on your prognostications.--Was it so, I know where I should be,--down amongst the _dead_ men;--down amongst the _dead_ men.--