Sir Joshua Reynolds now joined us.
“Are you telling her,” said he, “of our conversation with the old wits?
I am glad you hear it from Mr. Burke, Miss Burney, for he can tell it so
much better than I can, and remember their very words.”
“Nothing else would they talk of for three whole hours,” said he, “and
we were there at the third reading of the bill.”
“I believe I was in good hands,” said I, “if they talked of it to you?”
“Why, yes,” answered Sir Joshua, laughing, “we joined in from time to
time. Gibbon says he read the whole five volumes in a day.”
“'Tis impossible,” cried Mr. Burke, “it cost me three days and you know
I never parted with it from the time I first opened it.”