She withdrew it with an air. O Dr. Bartlett, I must have been thought an
unpolite husband, had she been my wife!
I took her hand. Excuse this freedom, Sir Harry--For Heaven's sake,
madam, (whispering,) do what I know you will do, with a grace--Shall
there be a misunderstanding, and the husband court a refused hand?--I
then forced her half-unwilling hand into his, with an air that I intended
should have both freedom and respect in it.
What a man have we got here, Sir Harry? This cannot be the modest man,
that you have praised to me--I thought a good man must of necessity be
bashful, if not sheepish: and here your visitor is the boldest man in
England.
The righteous, Lady Beauchamp, said Sir Harry, with an aspect but
half-conceding, is bold as a lion.
And must I be compelled thus, and by such a man, to forgive you, Sir
Harry?--Indeed you were very unkind.
And you, Lady Beauchamp, were very cruel.
I did not think, sir, when I laid my fortune at your feet--
O, Lady Beauchamp! You said cutting things! Very cutting things.
And did not you, Sir Harry, say, it should be so?--So very peremptorily!
Not, madam, till you, as peremptorily--
A little recrimination, thought I, there must be, to keep each in
countenance on their past folly.
Ah, Sir Charles!--You may rejoice that you are not married, said Sir
Harry.
Dear Sir Harry, said I, we must bear with ladies.
Pages:
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110