Hethenentirelychangedthesubjectofdiscourse，andexertingallhispowerstoentertainourlittlecircle，conversedondifferenttopicswithmorethanhisusualbrillianceandfluency，addressinghimself，sometimes，exclusivelytome，sometimestothewholetrioofladies。Annabellacheerfullyboreherpartintheconversation；butIwassickatheart，——especiallywhenloudburstsoflaughterandincoherentsongs，pealingthroughthetripledoorsofhallandante-room，startledmyearandpiercedmyachingtemples；——andMilicentpartlysharedmyfeelings；sothat，tous，theeveningappearedaverylongone，inspiteofHargrave’sapparentlygood-naturedexertionstogiveitacontraryeffect。
Atlast，theycame；butnottillafterten，whentea，whichhadbeendelayedformorethanhalfanhour，wasnearlyover。MuchasIhadlongedfortheircoming，myheartfailedmeattheriotousuproaroftheirapproach；andMilicentturnedpaleandalmoststartedfromherseatasMr。Hattersleyburstintotheroomwithaclamorousvolleyofoathsinhismouth，whichHargraveendeavouredtocheckbyentreatinghimtoremembertheladies。
`Ah！youdowelltoremindmeoftheladies，youdastardlydeserter，’
criedhe，shakinghisformidablefistathisbrother-in-law；`ifitwerenotforthem，youwellknow，I’ddemolishyouinthetwinklingofaneye，andgiveyourbodytothefowlsofHeavenandtheliliesofthefield！”
Then，plantingachairbyLadyLowborough’sside，hestationedhimselfinit，andbegantotalktoher，withamixtureofabsurdityandrascallyimpudencethatseemedrathertoamusethantooffendher；thoughsheaffectedtoresenthisinsolence，andtokeephimatbaywithsalliesofsmartandspiritedrepartee。