Miss, as matters stood, would much rather have excused his visits; but
they had more than once apologized, that having not the same reason my
papa had to forbid him their house, his rank and fortune entitled him
to civility.

You see, my dear, I made not the pleas I might have made.

My brother seemed ready to give a loose to his passion: My father put
on the countenance which always portends a gathering storm: My uncles
mutteringly whispered: And my sister aggravatingly held up her hands.
While I begged to be heard out:--And my mother said, let the child,
that was her kind word, be heard.

I hoped, I said, there was no harm done: that it became not me to
prescribe to Mrs. or Miss Howe who should be their visitors: that Mrs.
Howe was always diverted with the raillery that passed between Miss
and him: that I had no reason to challenge her guest for my visitor,
as I should seem to have done had I refused to go into their company
when he was with them: that I had never seen him out of the presence
of one or both of those ladies; and had signified to him once, on his
urging a few moments' private conversation with me, that, unless a
reconciliation were effected between my family and his, he must not
expect that I would countenance his visits, much less give him an
opportunity of that sort.

I told him further, that Miss Howe so well understood my mind, that
she never left me a moment while Mr. Lovelace was there: that when he
came, if I was not below in the parlour, I would not suffer myself to
be called to him: although I thought it would be an affectation which
would give him an advantage rather than the contrary, if I had left