my present request. Come, come, madam! How can a woman of your
ladyship's good sense (taking her hand, and leading her to the door) seem
to want to be persuaded to do a thing she knows in her heart to be right!
Let us find Sir Harry.

Strange man!--Unhand me--He has used me unkindly--

Overcome him then by your generosity. But, dear Lady Beauchamp, taking
both her hands, and smiling confidently in her face, [I could, my dear
Dr. Bartlett, do so to Lady Beauchamp,] will you make me believe, that a
woman of your spirit (you have a charming spirit, Lady Beauchamp) did not
give Sir Harry as much reason to complain, as he gave you?--I am sure by
his disturbed countenance--

Now, Sir Charles Grandison, you are downright affronting. Unhand me!

This misunderstanding is owing to my officious letter. I should have
waited on you in person. I should from the first have put it in your
power, to do a graceful and obliging thing. I ask your pardon. I am not
used to make differences between man and wife.

I touched first one hand, then the other, of the perverse baby with my
lips--Now am I forgiven: now is my friend Beauchamp permitted to return
to his native country: now are Sir Harry and his Lady reconciled--Come,
come, madam, it must be so--What foolish things are the quarrels of
married people!--They must come to an agreement again; and the sooner the
better; before hard blows are struck, that will leave marks--Let us, dear
madam, find out Sir Harry--

And then, with an air of vivacity, that women, whether in courtship or
out of it, dislike not, I was leading her once more to the door, and, as
I intended, to Sir Harry, wherever he could be found.

Hold, hold, sir! resisting; but with features far more placid than she
had suffered to be before visible--If I must be compelled--You are a
strange man, Sir Charles Grandison--If I must be compelled to see Sir
Harry--But you are a strange man--And she rang the bell.

Lady Beauchamp, Dr. Bartlett, is one of those who would be more ready to
forgive an innocent freedom, than to be gratified by a profound respect;
otherwise I had not treated her with so little ceremony. Such women are
formidable only to those who are afraid of their anger, or who make it a
serious thing.

But when the servant appeared, she not knowing how to condescend, I said,
Go to your master, sir, and tell him that your lady requests the
favour--

Requests the favour! repeated she; but in a low voice: which w