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Rh but she preserved a discreet silence, and his lordship continued:— "Our admirable and patriotic minister has agreed with me in the necessity of drawing our party as much together as possible. An immense deal may be done by conciliation; and I have promised Sir Robert to give a series of splendid entertainments." The fact was, that Walpole had been in utter despair what to do with their new acquisition, he was so useless in every way. At length Lord Norbourne started the brilliant idea of making him dinner-giver to their party. People forgive their host being a bore, when the fact is all but concealed by champagne and venison. "It is fortunate," added Lord Marchmont, "that I am not jealous, or I should have been quite alarmed at Sir Robert's eulogiums on your beauty." "I am much obliged," said the countess, coldly, who was turning in her mind the best way of introducing the interdicted list.