having taken
upon him to give her some cautions upon this subject, she was much
displeased at his conduct.

Miss Price, formerly maid of honour, that had been set aside, as we have
before mentioned, upon her leaving the duchess's service, had recourse
to Lady Castlemaine's protection: she had a very entertaining wit:
her complaisance was adapted to all humours, and her own humour was
possessed of a fund of gaiety and sprightliness which diffused universal
mirth and merriment wherever she came. Her acquaintance with Miss
Jennings was prior to Talbot's.

As she was thoroughly acquainted with all the intrigues of the court,
she related them without any manner of reserve to Miss Jennings, and her
own with the same frankness as the others: Miss Jennings was extremely
well pleased with her stories; for though she was determined to make no
experiment in love, but upon honourable terms, she however was desirous
of knowing from her recitals, all the different intrigues that were
carrying on: thus, as she was never wearied with her conversation, she
was overjoyed whenever she could see her.

Talbot, who remarked the extreme relish she had for Miss Price's
company, thought that the reputation such a woman had in the world might
prove injurious to his mistress, more especially from the particular
intimacy there seemed to exist between them: whereupon, in the tone of
a guardian rather than a lover, he took upon him to chide her for
the disreputable company she kept. Miss Jennings was haughty beyond
conception, when once she took it into her head; and as she liked Miss
Price's conversation much better than Talbot's, she took the liberty
of desiring him "to attend to his own affairs, and that if he only
came from Ireland to read lectures about her conduct, he might take the
trouble to go back as soon as he pleased." He was offended at a sally
which he thought ill-timed, considering the situation of affairs between
them; and went out of her presence more abruptly than became the respect
due from a man greatly in love. He for some time appeared offended;
but perceiving that he gained nothing by such conduct, he grew weary of
acting that part, and assumed that of an humble lover, in which he
was equally unsuccessful; neither his repentance nor submissions could
produce any effect upon her, and the mutinous little gipsy was still in
her pouts when Jermyn returned to court.

It was above a year since he had triumphed over the weakness