"But for you, Sir, I might, perhaps, have been happy."
"What, then, am I to conclude that, but for me, your partner would have appeared?—poor fellow!—and did my presence awe him?"
"I wish his presence, Sir, could awe you!"
"His presence!—perhaps then you see him?"
"Perhaps, Sir, I do;" cried I, quite wearied of his raillery.
"Where?—where?—for Heaven's sake shew me the wretch!"
"Wretch, Sir?"
"O, a very savage!—a sneaking, shame-faced, despicable puppy!"
I know not what bewitched me,—but my pride was hurt, and my spirits were tired, and—in short—I had the folly, looking at Lord Orville, to repeat, "Despicable, you think?"
His eyes instantly followed mine; "why, is that the gentleman?"
I made no answer; I could not affirm, and I would not deny; for I hoped to be relieved from his teizing, by his mistake.
The very moment we had done what he called our duty, I eagerly desired to return to Mrs. Mirvan.
To
