Page:Ethel Churchill 2.pdf/175

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ETHEL CHURCHILL.
173


"Again, madam, am I under the necessity of requesting that you will abstain from interruption. The petulance of your sex is especially shewn in trifles. As I heard his Grace the Duke of Wharton observe, only yesterday,—'Women never will listen.' This was his remark while we were walking in the Mall together; and I could not but be struck by its profound truth. I am not above being instructed, whatever, madam, you may think to the contrary."

Henrietta bit her lip to prevent herself from saying, that the task of instruction appeared to her, in this instance, a very hopeless one; and his lordship went on to observe,—

"I am sorry to see that, this morning even, you persist in disobeying me. I repeat, that I entirely disapprove of your line of conduct."

"Why, what am I doing now but listening to you? Is that what you disapprove?"

"To listen to me, madam, is your duty: though," said he, in a voice growing every