"And so you really are at last caught, my lord," said I, "fairly caught in love's trap? Now I am rather curious to learn what particular happiness you expect to enjoy with a girl who, though she is my sister, I may say, as you and everybody know it as well as myself, never showed any character but once in her whole life; and that was in her unequivocal dislike of you?" "I do not mind that," answered his lordship, "and, by giving her whatever she wants, she may perhaps get over her dislike." "Is it her beauty then which has won your heart?" "In part," answered Berwick; "but chiefly the opinion I have formed of her truth. I could never live with a woman whom I must watch and suspect. Now, I am disposed to believe implicitly every word Sophia utters." "And with good reason," I interrupted him, "for I am convinced that Sophia seldom, if ever, tells an untruth; and certainly there is something very candid and fair in her unqualified acknowledgment of dislike towards you, since she is evidently fond of all the good things your money can buy, and I think she particularly likes a good dinner." "And therefore," Lord Berwick resumed, "as her friend you ought to advise her to come to me." I told his lordship that I really could not overcome my reluctance to interfere in such matters. "I want her to decide," said his persevering lordship, "that I may give orders about buying the lease of a house for her in town, and furnishing it." In the evening we all went into Lord Berwick's private box at the theatre, and were very merry, with the exception of his lordship, who sat down quietly at the very back of the box, where he could neither see nor hear. Sophia did not once take the slightest notice of him. For my part, I asked him several times, if he would not exchange places with Lord Worcester; but he assured me that he disliked seeing a play more than sitting in the dark. "Sophia ought to chat with you then, since she chooses to favour you with her company." "Oh, I do not like to be talked to," said Lord Berwick. Every morning of my life I was entertained with his lordship's prosing about Sophia. "I do not think," said he, "that Sophia will ever willingly deceive me." END OF VOL. 1 * * * * * THE MEMOIRS OF HARRIETTE WILSON WRITTEN BY HERSELF VOLUME TWO LONDON EVELEIGH NASH FAWSIDE HOUSE 1909 [Illustration: Sophia] LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS VOLUME TWO SOPHIA, SISTER OF HARRIETTE WILSON _Frontispiece_ GEORGE BRYAN BRUMMELL *LORD ALVANLEY *THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER N.B.--The illustrations marked with an asterisk (*) are reproduced, facsimile, from the famous Deighton portraits CHAPTER XIX On the morning of the day fixed on for our dining at the mess-room, Lord Worcester received a severe reprimand from Colonel Quintin for neglecting the drill.