am sure cannot be suspected of flattery. He is your friend as well as myself, and we will never let Mr. James rest till he hath got you a commission in England.'
Booth bowed again, and was offering to speak, but she interrupted him, saying, 'I will have no thanks, nor no fine speeches; if I can do you any service I shall think I am only paying the debt of friendship to my dear Mrs. Booth.'
Amelia, who had long since forgot the dislike she had taken to Mrs. James at her first seeing her in town, had attributed it to the right cause, and had begun to resume her former friendship for her, expressed very warm sentiments of gratitude on this occasion. She told Mrs. James she should be eternally obliged to her if she could succeed in her kind endeavours; for that the thoughts of parting again with her husband had given her the utmost concern. 'Indeed,' added she, 'I cannot help saying he hath some merit in the service, for he hath received two dreadful wounds in it, one of which very greatly endangered his life; and I am convinced, if his pretensions were backed with any interest, he would not fail of success.'
'They shall be backed with interest,' cries Mrs. James, 'if my husband hath any. He hath no favour to ask for himself, nor for any other friend that I know of; and, indeed, to grant a man his just due, ought hardly to be thought a favour. Resume your old gaiety, therefore, my dear Emily. Lord! I remember the time when you was much the gayer creature of the two. But you make an arrant mope of yourself by confining yourself at home--one never meets you anywhere. Come, you shall go with me to the Lady Betty Castleton's.'
'Indeed, you must excuse me, my dear,' answered Amelia, 'I do not know Lady Betty.'
'Not know Lady Betty! how, is that possible?--but no matter, I will introduce you. She keeps a morning rout; hardly a rout, indeed; a little bit of a drum--only four or five tables. Come, take your capuchine; you positively shall go. Booth, you shall go with us too. Though you are with your wife, another woman will keep you in countenance.'
'La! child,' cries Amelia, 'how you rattle!'
'I am in spirits,' answered Mrs. James, 'this morning; for I won four rubbers together last night; and betted the things, and won almost every bet. I am in luck, and we will contrive to be partners--Come.'
'Nay, child, you shall not refuse Mrs. James,' said Booth.
'I have scarce seen my children to-day,' answered Amelia. 'Besides, I mortally detest cards.'
'Detest cards!' cries Mrs. James. 'How can you be so stupid? I would not live a day without them--nay, indeed, I do not believe I should be able to exist. Is there so delightful a sight in the world as the four honours in one's own hand, unless it be three natural aces at bragg?-- And you really hate cards?'
'Upon reflexion,' cries Amelia, 'I have sometimes had great pleasure in them--in seeing my children build houses with them. My little boy is so dexterous that he will sometimes build up the whole pack.'
'Indeed, Booth,' cries Mrs. James, 'this good woman of yours is strangely altered since I knew her first; but she will always be a good creature.'
'Upon my word, my dear,' cries Amelia, 'you are altered too very greatly; but I doubt not to live to see you alter again, when you come to have as many children as I have.'
'Children!' cries Mrs. James; 'you make me shudder. How can you envy me the only circumstance which makes matrimony comfortable?'
'Indeed, my dear,' said Amelia, 'you injure me; for I envy no woman's happiness in marriage.' At these words such looks past between Booth and his wife as, to a sensible by-stander, would have made all the airs of Mrs. James appear in the highest degree contemptible, and would have rendered herself the object of compassion. Nor could that lady avoid looking a little silly on the occasion.
Amelia now, at the earnest desire of her husband, accoutred herself to attend her friend; but first she insisted on visiting her children, to whom she gave several hearty kisses, and then, recommending them to the care of Mrs. Atkinson, she and her husband accompanied Mrs. James
