. The views of the ladies were exactly the same.
They vied in grandeur, that is, in ostentation, with the wife of Sir Charles
Chickwell, who had four times their fortune; and she again piqued herself upon
making an equal figure with a neighbouring peeress, whose revenue trebled her
own. Here then was the fable of the frog and the ox, realized in four different
instances within the same county: one large fortune, and three moderate estates,
in a fair way of being burst by the inflation of female vanity; and in three of
these instances, three different forms of female tyranny were exercised. Mr.
Baynard was subjugated by practising upon the tenderness of his nature. Mr.
Milksan, being of a timorous disposition, truckled to the insolence of a
termagant. Mr. Sowerby, who was of a temper neither to be moved by fits, nor
driven by menaces, had the fortune to be fitted with a helpmate, who assailed
him with the weapons of irony and satire; sometimes sneering in the way of
compliment; sometimes throwing out sarcastic comparisons, implying reproaches
upon his want of taste, spirit, and generosity: by which means she stimulated
his passions from one act of extravagance to another, just as the circumstances
of her vanity required.
    All these three ladies have at this time the same number of horses,
carriages, and servants in and out of livery; the same variety of dress; the
same quantity of plate and china; the like ornaments in furniture; and in their
entertainments they endeavour to exceed one another in the variety, delicacy,
and expence of their dishes. I believe it will be found upon enquiry, that
nineteen out of twenty, who are ruined by extravagance, fall a sacrifice to the
ridiculous pride and vanity of silly women, whose parts are held in contempt by
the very men whom they pillage and enslave. Thank heaven, Dick, that among all
the follies and weaknesses of human nature, I have not yet fallen into that of
matrimony.
    After Baynard and I had discussed all these matters at leisure, we returned
towards the house, and met Jery with our two women, who had come forth to take
the air, as the lady of the mansion had not yet made her appearance. In short,
Mrs. Baynard did not produce herself, till about a quarter of an hour before
dinner was upon the table. Then her husband brought her into the parlour,
accompanied by her aunt and son; and she received us with a coldness of reserve
sufficient to freeze the very soul of hospitality. Though she knew I had been
the
