was completed. The piece
was large, and it must be owned he did not spare his colours; for
which my wife gave him great encomiums. We were all perfectly
satisfied with his performance; but an unfortunate circumstance which
had not occurred till the picture was finished, now struck us with
dismay. It was so very large that we had no place in the house to fix
it. How we all came to disregard so material a point is inconceivable;
but certain it is, we had been all greatly remiss. The picture,
therefore, instead of gratifying our vanity, as we hoped, leaned, in a
most mortifying manner, against the kitchen wall, where the canvas was
stretched and painted, much too large to be got through any of the
doors, and the jest of all our neighbours. One compared it to Robinson
Crusoe's long-boat, too large to be removed; another thought it more
resembled a reel in a bottle; some wondered how it could be got out.
but still more were amazed how it ever got in.

3. But though it excited the ridicule of some, it effectually raised
more malicious suggestions in many. The Squire's portrait being found
united with ours, was an honour too great to escape envy. Scandalous
whispers began to circulate at our expense, and our tranquillity was
continually disturbed by persons, who came as friends, to tell us what
was said of us by enemies. These reports we always resented with
becoming spirit; but scandal ever improves by opposition.

4. We once again, therefore, entered into a consultation upon
obviating the malice of our enemies, and at last came to a resolution
which had too much cunning to give me entire satisfaction. It was
this: as our principal object was to discover the honour of Mr.
Thornhill's addresses, my wife undertook to sound him, by pretending
to ask his advice in the choice of an husband for her eldest daughter.
If this was not found sufficient to induce him to a declaration, it
was then resolved to terrify him with a rival. To this last step,
however, I would by no means give my consent, till Olivia gave me the
most solemn assurances that she would marry the person provided to
rival him upon this occasion, if he did not prevent it by taking her
himself. Such was the scheme laid, which, though I did not strenuously
oppose, I did not entirely approve.

5. The next time, therefore, that Mr. Thornhill came to see us, my
girls took care to be out of the way, in order to give their mamma an
opportunity of putting her scheme in ex