Before breakfast, a walk with Sir Pitt and his spud; after breakfast studies (such as they are) in the schoolroom; after schoolroom, reading and writing about lawyers, leases, coal-mines, canals, with Sir Pitt (whose secretary I am become); after dinner, Mr.Crawley's discourses on the baronet's backgammon; during both of which amusements my lady looks on with equal placidity.

She has become rather more interesting by being ailing of late, which has brought a new visitor to the Hall, in the person of a young doctor.

Well, my dear, young women need never despair.

The young doctor gave a certain friend of yours to understand that, if she chose to be Mrs.Glauber, she was welcome to ornament the surgery! I told his impudence that the gilt pestle and mortar was quite ornament enough; as if I was born, indeed, to be a country surgeon's wife! Mr.Glauber went home seriously indisposed at his rebuff, took a cooling draught, and is now quite cured.

Sir Pitt applauded my resolution highly; he would be sorry to lose his little secretary, I think; and I believe the old wretch likes me as much as it is in his nature to like any one.