And do you hold them unworthy of your presence, Sir?

Not, madam, while you are before me, and if they had any business with me, or I with them.

Has not a husband business where his wife is?

Neither wife nor husband has business with me.

Yes, Sir, I am come to demand my daughter. I come to demand a mother’s right.

I answer not to such a demand: you know you have no right to make it.

I have been at Colnebrook; she was kept from me: my child was carried out of the house, that I miglit not see her.

And have you then terrified the poor girl?

I have left a letter for her; and I expect to see K 2 her upon it. Her new father, as worthy and ais; brave a man as yourself, Sir, longs to see her

Her new father! madam. You expect to see her! madam What was your behaviour to her, unnatural woman! the last time you saw her? But if you do see her, it must be in my presence, and without ’ your man, if he form pretensions, on your account^ that may give either her or me disturbance.

You are only. Sir, to take care of her fortune; so I am advised: I, as her mother, have the natural right over her person. The Chancery will give it to me.

Then seek your remedy in Chancery: let me never hear of you again, but by the officers of that court.

I opened the door leading into the room where the two men were.

They are not officers, I dare say: common men of the town, I doubt not, new-dressed for the occa-sion. O’Hara, as she calls him, is, probably, one of her temporary husbands only.

Pray walk in, gentlemen, said I, This lad}’ inti-mates to me, that she will apply to Chancery against me. The Chancery, if she has any grievance, will be a proper recourse. She can have no business with me, after such a declaration Much less can either of you.

And opening the drawing-room door that led to the hall, Frederick, said I, attend the lady and the gentlemen to their coach.

I turned from them, to go into my study. The major, as he was called, asked me, with a fierce air, his hand on his sword, If this were treatment due to Gentlemen?

This house, in which, however, you are an intruder. Sir, is your protection; or that motion, and that air, if you mean any thing by either, would cost you dear.

StR CHARLES GRANDISON. lOl

I am, Sir, the protector of my wife: you have insulted her, Sir.

Have I insulted your wife. Sir? And I stepped up to him; but just in time recovered myself, re-membering where I was Take care, Sir But you are safe here Frederick, wait upon the gentlemen to the door

Frederick was not in hearing; the well-meaning man, apprehending consequences, went, it seems,- into the offices, to get together’ some of his fellow-servants.