"Why what's to do here?" cried he, facetiously, "nothing but chairs and
livery servants! Why, ma'am, what is this your rout day? Sir your most
humble servant. I ask pardon, but I did not know you at first. But
come, suppose we were all to sit down? Sitting's as cheap as standing,
and what I say is this; when a man's tired, it's more agreeable."

"Have you any thing further, ma'am," said Mr Delvile, with great
solemnity, "to communicate to me?"

"No, Sir," said Mrs Belfield, rather angrily, "it's no business of mine
to be communicating myself to a gentleman that I don't know the name
of. Why, Mr Hobson, how come you to know the gentleman?"

"To know _me_!" repeated Mr Delvile, scornfully.

"Why I can't say much, ma'am," answered Mr Hobson, "as to my knowing
the gentleman, being I have been in his company but once; and what I
say is, to know a person if one leaves but a quart in a hogshead, it's
two pints too much. That's my notion. But, Sir, that was but an ungain
business at 'Squire Monckton's t'other morning. Every body was no-how,
as one may say. But, Sir, if I may be so free, pray what is your
private opinion of that old gentleman that talked so much out of the
way?"

"My private opinion, Sir?"

"Yes, Sir; I mean if it's no secret, for as to a secret, I hold it's
what no man has a right to enquire into, being of its own nature it's a
thing not to be told. Now as to what I think myself, my doctrine is