\"Whatcantherebeinthatlittleprudeofawomanthatmakesmensoraffolerabouther？\"criesoutmyLadyDowager。\"ShewashereforamonthpetitioningtheKing。Sheispretty，andwellconserved;butshehasnotthebelair。InhislateMajesty\'sCourtallthemenpretendedtoadmireher，andshewasnobetterthanalittlewaxdoll。Sheisbetternow，andlooksthesisterofherdaughter;butwhatmeanyouallbybepraisingher？Mr。Steele，whowasinwaitingonPrinceGeorge，seeingherwithhertwochildrengoingtoKensington，writapoemabouther，andsaysheshallwearhercolors，anddressinblackforthefuture。Mr。
Congrevesayshewillwritea\'MourningWidow，\'thatshallbebetterthanhis\'MourningBride。\'ThoughtheirhusbandsquarrelledandfoughtwhenthatwretchChurchilldesertedtheKing（forwhichhedeservedtobehung），LadyMarlboroughhasagaingonewildaboutthelittlewidow;insultedmeinmyowndrawing—room，bysaying\'twasnottheOLDwidow，buttheyoungViscountess，shehadcometosee。LittleCastlewoodandlittleLordChurchillaretobeswornfriends，andhaveboxedeachothertwiceorthricelikebrothersalready。\'TwasthatwickedyoungMohunwho，comingbackfromtheprovinceslastyear，wherehehaddisinterredher，ravedaboutherallthewinter;saidshewasapearlsetbeforeswine;andkilledpoorstupidFrank。Thequarrelwasallabouthiswife。Iknow\'twasallabouther。WasthereanythingbetweenherandMohun，nephew？Tellmenow——wasthereanything？Aboutyourself，Idonotaskyoutoanswerquestions。\"
Mr。Esmondblushedup。\"Mylady\'svirtueislikethatofasaintinheaven，madam，\"hecriedout。
\"Eh！——monneveu。Manysaintsgettoheavenafterhavingadealtorepentof。Ibelieveyouarelikealltherestofthefools，andmadlyinlovewithher。\"
\"Indeed，Ilovedandhonoredherbeforealltheworld，\"Esmondanswered。\"Itakenoshameinthat。\"