In the afternoon we had also Mr. Wallace, the attorney general, a most squat and squab looking man. In the evening, when the Irish ladies, the Perkinses, Lambarts, and Sir Philip, had gone, Mrs. Thrale walked out with Mr. Wallace, whom she had some business to talk over with; and then, when only Miss Owen, Miss T., and I remained, Mr. Crutchley, after repeatedly addressing me, and gaining pretty dry answers, called out suddenly,
“Why, Miss Burney! why, what's the matter?”
“Nothing.”
“Why, are you stricken, or smitten, or ill?”
“None of the three.”
“Oh, then, you are setting down all these Irish folks.”
“No, indeed; I don't think them worth the trouble.”
“Oh, but I am sure you are; only I interrupted you.”
I went on no further with the argument, and Miss Thrale proposed our walking out to meet her mother. We all agreed and Mr. Crutchley would not be satisfied without walking near me, though I really had no patience to talk with him, and wished him at Jericho.
“What's the matter?” said he; “have you had a quarrel?”