O! to be sure, _Mame_; but will you not first hear what was the occasion of the noise?--The country-dances, continued she, not waiting my reply, began; and _our Town's Gentlemen_ ran to the top of the room, leaving the _Officers_ to dance at the bottom.--This put them in _so_ violent a passion, that the Colonel swore, if _our_ Gentlemen persisted in their ill manners, not a soul should dance.--So, _Mame_, upon this _our_ Gentlemen let some of the Officers stand above them;--and there was no dispute till after ten.--What they quarrelled about then I don't know;--but, when I came into the room, they were all going to fight;--and fight they certainly would, if they could have got _our_ Gentlemen down stairs.--Not one of them would stir, which made the others so mad, that they would have pulled them down, had not the Ladies interfered.--Then it was, _Mame_, I suppose, you heard the cries and shrieks; for every one that had _husbands, brothers_, or _admirers_ there, took hold of them; begging and praying they would not fight.--Poor Miss Peggy Turner will have a fine rub; for she always deny'd to her _Mamma_, that there was any thing in the affair between her and Mr. Grant the Attorney. Now she has discovered all, by fainting away when he broke from her to go to the other end of the room.
None, I'll assure you, _Mame_, in this house; what happens out of it is no business of mine. Now, _Mame_, would you please to go to bed? By all means, Mrs. Betty.--So away went my communicative companion. Being much tired, I shall lay down an hour or two, then reassume my pen.
Not able to close my eyes, I am got up to have the pleasure of introducing to your Ladyship the Gentleman who I mention'd was to dine with us at the other inn. Judge my surprize, when I found him to be the worthy Dean of H---- going into Oxfordshire to visit his former flock;--I knew him before Mr. Jenkings pronounced his name, by the strong likeness of his picture.
I even fancied the beautiful pair stood before me, whose hands he is represented joining. It is much to be regretted so fine a piece should be hid from the world.--Why should not _this_ be proportion? The _other_ portraits which your Ladyship has drawn, are even allowed by Reynolds to be masterly.--Let me therefore entreat, next time he comes to the Lodge, my favourite may _at least_ have a chance of being called from banishment.