“‘Oh, don’t like him for your life! I charge you not! I hope you did not like his looks?’
“‘Why,’ quoth I, laughing, ‘I went prepared and determined to like him; but perhaps, when I see him next, I may go prepared for the contrary.’
“A rat-tat-tat-tat ensued, and the Earl of Harcourt was announced. When he had paid his compliments to Mrs. Cholmondeley—
“‘I knew, ma’am,’ he said, ‘that I should find you at home.’
“‘I suppose then, my lord,’ said she, ‘that you have seen Sir Joshua Reynolds; for he is engaged to be here.’
“‘I have,’ answered his lordship; ‘and heard from him that I should be sure to find you.’
“And then he added some very fine compliment, but I have forgot it.
“‘Oh, my lord,’ cried she, ‘you have the most discernment of anybody! His lordship (turning another way) always says these things to me, and yet he never flatters.’
“Lord Harcourt, speaking of the lady from whose house he was just come, said:
“‘Mrs. Vesey[[43]] is vastly agreeable, but her fear of ceremony is really troublesome: for her eagerness to break a circle is such, that she insists upon everybody’s sitting with their backs one to another; that is, the chairs are drawn into little parties of three together, in a confused manner, all over the room.’