"A very ill-natured One, though, Sir. When Sir _Charles_ said of the unfortunate Emigrant _Lady_, 'That Woman deserves a Crown,' and Mr. _Paul_ rejoined, that he had not a Crown to lay at her Feet, but he had Half-a-Crown very much at her Service: was that a Repartee?" "Yes, it was suggested by the Remark of the First, and could not have been prepared. You have culled a Grain of Wheat, Mrs. _Patty_, from a Bushel of Chaff." "You thought Lady _Betty_ a great Beauty, I suppose, Mr. _Fenwick_?" "Well, she is what is called a Fine-Woman, I believe. Fine Eyes, and Teeth; good Carriage of the Head." "Oh Sir! had you seen her toss that Head at my poor _Mother_! 'Twas as much as I could stand!" "I am glad, then, that I did not. She has Wit, however, but is too artificial, flighty, and exacting. There's a degree of Coarseness about her. 'Twas so humorous, to hear her trying to recover her Supremacy in that Dialogue among the Men, when she began once and again 'When I was at _Peterwaradin_,' and no one was listening to her!" "Except you and me, Sir. Well, I must not keep you from Supper." "Nor must I keep you standing. How are you going to manage about Mrs. _Gatty_?" "She's going to sleep with me, Sir; if I sleep at all, that is." "You expect a restless Night." "I doubt if I shall lie down if she continue as she is." "If you are going to sit up, you will require Something to keep you awake. Shall I find you a Book to read?" "Do, if you please, Sir; I shall gratefully thank you!" "Well then, what will you have? You know I have no Novels. Here is a charming Paper of Mr. _Addison's_, in one of the old _Spectators_, which I was reading when you came in. '_Cheerfulness preferable to Mirth._' How well it opens! 'I have always preferred Cheerfulness to Mirth. The latter I consider as an Act, the former as a Habit of the Mind.'" "That will not take long in reading, Sir. Might I have one of _Shakspeare's_ Plays? I liked the _Merchant of Venice_ so much!" "Certainly you may. Did you like _Romeo and Juliet_?" "Not at all, Sir." "Come, then, here is the _Winter's Tale_ for you. Or stay, here is _Cymbeline_. You will like much of it, though not all; for you have as nice a Taste in Books, Mrs. _Patty_, as your _Father_ has in old China. _Imogen_ is one of the purest, loveliest Creations of the Poet. When you get tired of her Companions, turn the Leaf till you come to her, and you won't fall asleep. Her two Brothers, too, in the Cave, are charming. What a fine Lesson is given here, in a mere passing Word of the Physician to the Queen, against Cruelty to dumb Animals! She tells him she experimentalizes with Poisons on Creatures not worth the hanging; and he tells her she hardens her Heart, and proceeding from low degrees to higher, will become careless of inflicting pain and death on superior Natures. Here it is, Mrs. _Patty_."