_Oliv._ No, Lettice, tell him my cousin is here, and that he may come up. For notwithstanding I detest the sight of him, you may like his conversation; and though I would use him scurvily, I will not be rude to you in my own lodging: since he has followed you hither, let him come up, I say. _Eliza._ Very fine! pray let him go to the devil, I say, for me: I know him not, nor desire it. Send him away, Mrs. Lettice. _Oliv._ Upon my word, she shan't: I must disobey your commands, to comply with your desires. Call him up, Lettice. _Eliza._ Nay, I'll swear she shall not stir on that errand. [_Holds_ LETTICE. _Oliv._ Well then, I'll call him myself for you, since you will have it so.--[_Calls out at the door._] Mr. Novel, sir, sir! _Enter_ NOVEL. _Nov._ Madam, I beg your pardon; perhaps you were busy: I did not think you had company with you. _Eliza._ Yet he comes to me, cousin! [_Aside to_ OLIVIA. _Oliv._ Chairs there. [_They sit._ _Nov._ Well; but, madam, d'ye know whence I come now? _Oliv._ From some melancholy place, I warrant, sir, since they have lost your good company. _Eliza._ So! _Nov._ From a place where they have treated me at dinner with so much civility and kindness, a pox on them! that I could hardly get away to you, dear madam. _Oliv._ You have a way with you so new and obliging, sir! _Eliza._ You hate flattery, cousin! [_Apart to_ OLIVIA. _Nov._ Nay, faith, madam, d'ye think my way new? Then you are obliging, madam. I must confess, I hate imitation, to do anything like other people. All that know me do me the honour to say, I am an original, faith. But, as I was saying, madam, I have been treated to-day with all the ceremony and kindness imaginable at my Lady Autumn's. But, the nauseous old woman at the upper end of her table-- _Oliv._ Revives the old Grecian custom, of serving in a death's head with their banquets. _Nov._ Ha! ha! fine, just, i'faith, nay, and new. 'Tis like eating with the ghost in "The Libertine:"[100] she would frighten a man from her dinner with her hollow invitations, and spoil one's stomach-- _Oliv._ To meat or women. I detest her hollow cherry cheeks: she looks like an old coach new painted; affecting an unseemly smugness, whilst she is ready to drop in pieces. _Eliza._ You hate detraction, I see, cousin. [_Apart to_ OLIVIA. _Nov._ But the silly old fury, whilst she affects to look like a woman of this age, talks-- _Oliv._ Like one of the last; and as passionately as an old courtier who has outlived his office. _Nov._ Yes, madam; but pray let me give you her character. Then she never counts her age by the years, but-- _Oliv._ By the masques she has lived to see. _Nov._ Nay then, madam, I see you think a little harmless railing too great a pleasure for any but yourself; and therefore I've done. _Oliv._ Nay, faith, you shall tell me who you had there at dinner. _Nov._ If you would hear me, madam. _Oliv._ Most patiently; speak, sir.