'
Having supplied him with a most liberal slice, she resumed the subject of
the ball.
'Then we'll fix it so,' observed she.
'Oh, fix it so, certainly--certainly fix it so,' replied his lordship,
filling his mouth full of gingerbread.
'Suppose we have it on the day of the races?' continued Amelia.
'Couldn't be better,' replied his lordship; 'couldn't be better,' repeated
he, eyeing her intently through his formidable specs.
His lordship was quite in the assenting humour, and would have agreed to
anything--anything short of lending one a five-pound note.
Amelia was charmed with her success. Despite the spot on her nose, she felt
she was winning.
His lordship sat like a target, shot at by all, but making the most of his
time, both in the way of eating and staring between questions.
At length the ladies withdrew, and his lordship having waddled to the door
to assist their egress, now availed himself of Jawleyford's invitation to
occupy an arm-chair during the enjoyment of his 'Wintle.'
Whether it was the excellence of the beverage, or that his lordship was
unaccustomed to wine-drinking, or that Jawleyford's conversation was
unusually agreeable, we know not, but the summons to tea and coffee was
disregarded, and when at length they did make their appearance, his
lordship was what the ladies call rather elevated, and talked thicker than
there was any occasion for.
Pages:
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502