only happy marriages I ever heard of are those in some Eastern story I once read, where the king marries a new wife every night, and cuts off her head in the morning."
"It would suit your grace, at all events,"replied Lady Mary; "you who are famed for being to one thing constant never."
"Well," exclaimed Lord Hervey, who had appeared to be absorbed in watching his own shadow on the water, "I do not think it is such a dreadful thing to be married. It is a protection, at all events."
"'Thou, who so many favours hast received,
Wondrous to tell, and hard to be believed!'"
cried Lady Mary: "and so, like the culprits of old, you are forced to take refuge from your pursuers at the altar."
"For pity's sake," ejaculated the duke, "do let us talk of some less disagreeable subject."
"Fie, your grace!" exclaimed Lady Mary. "Disagreeable subject! Lord Hervey was only, as usual, talking of himself."
