"Ods my life, sir!" repeated Sir Miles. "This is a pretty kettle of fish! Here we have all spent a pleasant night--dancing, playing, and making love, every one happy, even though some gentlemen did lose their mistresses or their money, and here you spoil sport by quarrelling at the end of it. What the Devil, sir, does it concern you whether my lord talks gallantry with one young lady or another?" "That, Sir Miles, allow me to tell you, is my business. If you are his lordship's second, let us arrange accordingly. If a principal, let us fight afterwards." "No, sir," replied the baronet. "It is everybody's business. It concerns the cheerfulness, the security, the happiness of all this honourable company. What! if I amuse myself, and a young lady too, by writing poems on her dainty fingers, must I needs go out and measure swords with every young hot-head who would fain be doing the same? Seconds and principals? Have we nothing to do but to fight duels? Mr. Temple, I thought better things from a gentleman of your rank and family. What! any jackanapes lawyer--any pert young haberdasher--might think it fine thus to insult and challenge a harmless nobleman of great name and excellent qualities! But for _you_, Mr. Temple! you, sir, a gentleman of your county, and of ancient and most honourable stock----Fie, sir, fie!" "I think, Sir Miles," said Harry, who wished now to have the preliminaries settled without more ado, "that things having so far advanced, these reproaches may be spared. Let us proceed to business." "A girl can choose, I suppose," Sir Miles went on, "without the interference or the objection of a man who is neither her father, her guardian, her brother, nor her cousin? Why, as for this young lady, whose name, I say, it is not respectful to name in this business--I myself, sir, I myself paid her attentions till she bade me go about my business. What, sir! do you think I should have suffered any man to question my right to make a Lady Lackington where I choose, and where I could! She laughed in my face. Mighty pretty laughing lips she has, and teeth as white as pearls; and a roguish eye when she chooses, for all she goes so grave. Did I, then, go snivelling in the dumps? Did I take it ill that she showed a liking for Lord Chudleigh, who is worth ten of me, and a dozen of you? Did I hang my chops and wipe my eyes? Did I, therefore, insult his Lordship, and call him out?" "All this, Sir Miles," Harry replied impatiently, "has nothing to do with the question which lies between Lord Chudleigh and myself."