om each
other by design. We have already made two breakfast-tables: yet I am
meek; he is sullen: I make courtesies; he returns not bows.--Sullen
creature, and a rustic!--I go to my harpsichord; melody enrages him. He
is worse than Saul; for Saul could be gloomily pleased with the music
even of the man he hated.

I would have got you to come to us: that I thought was tending to a
compliance; for it would have been condescending too much, as he is so
very perverse, if I had accompanied him to you. He has a great mind to
appeal to you; but I have half rallied him out of his purpose. I sent to
you. What an answer did you return me!--Cruel Harriet! to deny your
requested mediation in a difference that has arisen between man and wife.
--But let the fire glow. If it spares the house, and only blazes in the
chimney, I can bear it.

Cross creature, adieu! If you know not such a woman as Grandison, Heaven
grant that I may; and that my wishes may be answered as to the person;
and then I will not know a Byron.

See, Lucy, how high this dear flighty creature bribes! But I will not be
influenced, by her bribery, to take her part.

LETTER XXXII

MISS BYRON.--IN CONTINUATION
TUESDAY NIGHT.

I am just returned from St. James's-square.

But, first, I should tell you, that I had a visit from Lady Olivia and
Lady Maffei. Our conversation was in Italian and French. Lady Olivia
and I had a quarter of an hour's discourse in private: you may guess at
our subject. She is not without that tenderness of heart which is the
indispensable characteristic of a woman. She lamented the violence of
her temper, in a manner so affecting, that I cannot help pitying her,
though at the instant I had in my head a certain attempt, that makes me
shudder whenever I think of it. She regrets my going to Northamptonshire
so soon. I have promised to return her visit to-morrow in the afternoon.

She sets out on Friday next for Oxford. She wished I could accompany
her. She resolves to see all that is worth seeing in the western
circuit, as I may call it. She observes, she says, that Sir Charles
Grandison's sisters, and their lords, are very particularly engaged at
present; and are in expectation of a call to Windsor, to attend Lord
W----'s nuptials: she will therefore, having attendants enough, and two
men of consideration in her train, one of whom is not unacquainted with
England, take cursory tours over the kingdom; having a taste for
travelling, a