"Are they?" replied Lady Marchmont.
"He intends," continued his lordship, "to give a dinner, a tea-party, a ball, and supper!"
"Does he?" replied Henrietta.
"Why you answer," exclaimed her husband, pettishly, "as if you did not care about the matter?"
"I do not care!" was the answer
"Now really," returned he, "that is carrying conjugal obedience too far. I can assure you, that I do not expect a pretty woman like yourself to be indifferent to a ball, though it be given by the minister!"
Finding that this compliment was received in silence, he went on:—
"Now, own the truth,—are you not very sorry that my having been in the opposition precludes your going to the most brilliant fête of the season?"
"I cannot be sorry," replied she, "for what I do not care the least about!"
"Ah!" returned her husband, "I know candour is not a feminine accomplishment:
