G---- is gone to seek his fortune, I believe.

What did I mean?

I told them the airs he had given himself; and that he was gone without
leave, or notice of return.

He had served me right, ab-solutely right, Lord L---- said.

I believed so myself. Lord G---- was a very good sort of man, and ought
not to bear with me so much as he had done: but it would be kind in them,
not to tell him what I had owned.

The earl lifted up one hand; the countess both. They had not come to
dine with me, they said, after the answer I had returned, but as they
were afraid something was wrong between us.

Mediators are not to be of one side only, I said: and as they had been so
kindly free in blaming me, I hoped they would be as free with him, when
they saw him.

And then it was, For God's sake, Charlotte; and, Let me entreat you, Lady
G----. And let me, too, beseech you, madam, said Emily, with tears
stealing down her cheeks.

You are both very good: you are a sweet girl, Emily. I have a
too-playful heart. It will give me some pain, and some pleasure; but if
I had not more pleasure than pain from my play, I should not be so silly.

My lord not coming in, and the dinner being ready, I ordered it to be
served.--Won't you wait a little longer for Lord G----? No. I hope he
is safe, and well. He is his own master, as well as mine; (I sighed, I
believe!) and, no doubt, has a paramount pleasure in pursuing his own
choice.

They raved. I begged that they would let us eat our dinner with comfort.
My lord, I hoped, would come in with a keen appetite, and Nelthorpe
should get a supper for him that he liked.

When we had dined, and retired into the adjoining drawing-room, I had
another schooling-bout: Emily was even saucy. But I took it all: yet, in
my heart, was vexed at Lord G----'s perverseness.

At last, in came the honest man. He does not read this, and so cannot
take exceptions, and I hope you will not, at the word honest.

So lordly! so stiff! so solemn!--Upon my word!--Had it not been Sunday, I
would have gone to my harpsichord directly. He bowed to Lord and Lady
L----, and to Emily, very obligingly; to me he nodded.--I nodded again;
but, like a good-natured fool, smiled. He stalked to the chimney; turned
his back towards it, buttoned up his mouth, held up his glowing face, as
if he were disposed to crow; yet had not won the battle.--One hand in his
bosom; the other under the skirt of his waistcoat, and his posture firmer
than