Well, we went on, mutter, mutter, grumble, grumble, the thunder rolling at a distance; a little impatience now and then, however, portending, that it would come nearer. But, as yet, it was only, Pray, my dear, oblige me; and, Pray, my lord, excuse me; till this morning, when he had the assurance to be pretty peremptory; hinting, that the lord in waiting had been spoken to. A fine time of it would a wife have, if she were not at liberty to dress herself as she pleases. Were I to choose again, I do assure you, my dear, it should not be a man, who by his taste for moths and butterflies, shells, china, and such-like trifles, would give me warning, that he would presume to dress his baby, and when he had done, would perhaps admire his own fancy more than her person. I believe, my Harriet, I shall make you afraid of matrimony: but I will pursue my subject, for all that-- When the insolent saw that I did not dress, as he would have had me; he drew out his face, glouting, to half the length of my arm; but was silent. Soon after Lady L---- sending to know whether her lord and she were to attend us to the drawing-room, and I returning for answer, that I should be glad of their company at dinner; he was in violent wrath. True, as you are alive! and dressing himself in a great hurry, left the house, without saying, By your leave, With your leave, or whether he would return to dinner, or not. Very pretty doings, Harriet! Lord and Lady L---- came to dinner, however. I thought they were very kind, and, till they opened their lips, was going to thank them: for then, it was all elder sister, and insolent brother-in-law, I do assure you. Upon my word, Harriet, they took upon them. Lady L---- told me, I might be the happiest creature in the world, if--and there was so good as to stop. One of the happiest only, Lady L----! Who can be happier than you? But I, said she, should neither be so, nor deserve to be so, if--Good of her again, to stop at if. We cannot be all of one mind, replied I. I shall be wiser, in time. Where was poor Lord G---- gone? Poor Lord G---- is gone to seek his fortune, I believe. What did I mean? I told them the airs he had given himself; and that he was gone without leave, or notice of return. He had served me right, ab-solutely right, Lord L---- said. I believed so myself. Lord G---- was a very good sort of man, and ought not to bear with me so much as he had done: but it would be kind in them, not to tell him what I had owned. The earl lifted up one hand; the countess both. They had not come to dine with me, they said, after the answer I had returned, but as they were afraid something was wrong between us. Mediators are not to be of one side only, I said: and as they had been so kindly free in blaming me, I hoped they would be as free with him, when they saw him.