"Hey day, Miss Maria! What cannot you get a partner? Poor Young
Lady! I am afraid your new Gown was put on for nothing. But do
not despair; perhaps you may get a hop before the Evening is
over." So saying, she passed on without hearing my repeated
assurance of being engaged, and leaving me very much provoked at
being so exposed before every one--Mr Bernard however soon
returned and by coming to me the moment he entered the room, and
leading me to the Dancers my Character I hope was cleared from
the imputation Lady Greville had thrown on it, in the eyes of all
the old Ladies who had heard her speech. I soon forgot all my
vexations in the pleasure of dancing and of having the most
agreable partner in the room. As he is moreover heir to a very
large Estate I could see that Lady Greville did not look very
well pleased when she found who had been his Choice--She was
determined to mortify me, and accordingly when we were sitting
down between the dances, she came to me with more than her usual
insulting importance attended by Miss Mason and said loud enough
to be heard by half the people in the room, "Pray Miss Maria in
what way of business was your Grandfather? for Miss Mason and I
cannot agree whether he was a Grocer or a Bookbinder." I saw that
she wanted to mortify me, and was resolved if I possibly could to
Prevent her seeing that her scheme succeeded. "Neither Madam; he
was a Wine Merchant." "Aye, I knew he was in some such low way--
He broke did not he?" "I beleive not Ma'am." "Did not he
abscond?" "I never heard that he did." "At least he died
insolvent?" "I was never told so before." "Why, was not your
FATHER as poor as a Rat" "I fancy not." "Was not he in the
Kings Bench once?" "I never saw him there." She gave me SUCH a
look, and turned away in a great passion; while I was half
delighted with myself for my impertinence, and half afraid of