"I am glad, then, that I did not. She has Wit, however, but is too artificial, flighty, and exacting. There's a degree of Coarseness about her. 'Twas so humorous, to hear her trying to recover her Supremacy in that Dialogue among the Men, when she began once and again 'When I was at Peterwaradin,' and no one was listening to her!"
"Except you and me, Sir. Well, I must not keep you from Supper."
"Nor must I keep you standing. How are you going to manage about Mrs. Gatty?"
"She's going to sleep with me, Sir; if I sleep at all, that is."
"You expect a restless Night."
"I doubt if I shall lie down if she continue as she is."
"If you are going to sit up, you will require Something to keep you awake. Shall I find you a Book to read?"
"Do, if you please, Sir; I shall gratefully thank you!"
"Well then, what will you have? You know I have no Novels. Here is a charming Paper of Mr. Addison's, in one of the old Spectators, which I was reading when you came in. 'Cheerfulness preferable to Mirth.' How well it opens! 'I have always preferred Cheerfulness to Mirth. The latter I consider as an Act, the former as a Habit of the Mind.'"
"That will not take long in reading, Sir. Might I have one of Shakspeare's Plays? I liked the Merchant of Venice so much!"