'And so did I, indeed,' says a third.
'Oh, Madam!' says the tool, 'nothing like it, I assure you.'
'Indeed,' says another, I understood he had quitted Mrs——, because she had not fortune enough for him, and that he courted another certain lady, whom we all know.'
Then the ladies fell to talking of the circumstances of his leaving her, and how he had broken from her abruptly and unmannerly, and had been too free with her character; at which the first lady, that is to say, the emissary, or tool, as I call her, took it up a little warmly, thus:—
1. Lady.—Well, you see, ladies, how easily a lady's reputation may be injured; I hope you will not go away with it so.
2. Lady.—Nay, we have all of us a respect for Mrs——, and some of us visit there sometimes; I believe none of us would be willing to injure her.
1. Lady.—But indeed, ladies, she is very much injured in that story.
2. Lady.—Indeed, it is generally understood so, and every body believes it.
1. Lady.—I can assure you it is quite otherwise in fact.
2. Lady.—I believe he reports it so himself, and that with some very odd things about the lady too.