uld you, madam, have the heart to write--

LADY G. Why, my lord, do you mince the matter? For heart, say
courage. You may speak as plain in Miss Byron's presence, as you did
before she came: I know what you mean.

LORD G. Let it be courage, then.

HAR. Fie, fie, Lord G----! Fie, fie, Lady G----! What lengths do you
run! If I understand the matter right, you have both, like children,
been at play, till you have fallen out.

LORD G. If, Miss Byron, you know the truth, and can blame me--

HAR. I blame you only, my lord, for being in a passion. You see, my
lady is serene: she keeps her temper: she looks as if she wanted to be
friends with you.

LORD G. O that cursed serenity!--When my soul is torn by a
whirlwind--

LADY G. A good tragedy rant!--But, Harriet, you are mistaken: My Lord
G---- is a very passionate man. So humble, so--what shall I call it?
before marriage--Did not the man see what a creature I was?--To bear with
me, when he had no obligation to me; and not now, when he has the
highest--A miserable sinking!--O Harriet, Harriet! Never, never marry!

HAR. Dear Lady G----, you know in your own heart you are wrong--Indeed
you are wrong--

LORD G. God for ever reward you, madam!--I will tell you how it
began--

LADY G. 'Began!' She knows that already, I tell you, my lord. But
what has passed within these four hours, she knows not: you may entertain
her with that, if you please.--It was just about the time this day is a
week, that we were altogether, mighty comfortably, at St. George's,
Hanover-square--

LORD G. Every tittle of what you promised there, madam--

LADY G. And I, my lord, could be your echo in this, were I not resolved
to keep my temper, as you cannot but say I have done, all along.

LORD G. You could not, madam, if you did not despise me.

LADY G. You are wrong, my lord, to think so: but you don't believe
yourself: if you did, the pride of your heart ought not to permit you to
own it.

LORD G. Miss Byron, give me leave--

LADY G. Lord bless me! that people are so fond of exposing themselves!
Had you taken my advice, when you pursued me out of my dressing-room into
company--My lord, said I, as mildly as I now speak, Don't expose
yourself. But he was not at all the wiser for my advice.

LORD G. Miss Byron, you see--But I had not come down but to make my
compliments to you. He bowed, and was about to withdraw.

I took him by the sleeve--My lord, you mu