Camilla; or, A Picture of Youth. Burney Fanny

they ordered me a glass of wine.'

      What a set! thought Edgar, is this, idle, dissipated, curious – for Camilla to associate with! – the lively, the unthinking, the inexperienced Camilla!

      'So then they asked me, says they, does Miss Lynmere learn, says they? – Not, as I know of, says I, she's no great turn for her book, as ever I heard of; which I hope Miss you won't take ill, for they all said, no, to be sure, she's too handsome for that.'

      Indiana looked uncertain whether to be flattered or offended.

      'But you have not told us what they said of Mr. Mandlebert yet?' cried Miss Margland.

      'No, I must come to you first, Miss,' answered he, 'for that's what they come upon next. But mayhap I must not tell?'

      'O yes, you may;' said she, growing a little apprehensive of some affront, but determined not to seem hurt by it; 'I am very indifferent to any thing they can say of me, assure yourself!'

      'Why, I suppose, says they, this Latin master studies chiefly with the governess? – They'd study fisty-cuffs I believe, if they did, says I, for she hates him like poison; and there's no great love lost between them.'

      'And what right had you to say that, Mr. Jacob? I did not ask what you said. Not that I care, I promise you!'

      'Why, some how, they got it all out; they were so merry and so full of their fun, I could not be behind hand. But I hope no offence?'

      'O dear no! I'm sure it's not worth while.'

      'They said worse than I did,' resumed Jacob, 'by a deal; they said, says they, she looks duced crabbed – she looks just as if she was always eating a sour apple, says the lady; she looks – '

      'Well, well, I don't want to hear any more of their opinions. I may look as I please I hope. I hate such gossiping.'

      'So then they said, pray does Miss Camilla learn? says they; – Lord love her, no! says I.'

      'And what said they to that?' cried Edgar.

      'Why, they said, they hoped not, and they were glad to hear it, for they liked her the best of all. And what does the ugly one do? says they. – '

      'Come, we have heard enough now,' interrupted Edgar, greatly shocked for poor Eugenia, who fortunately, however, had retired with Camilla.

      Sir Hugh too, angrily broke in upon him, saying: 'I won't have my niece called ugly, Jacob! you know it's against my commands such a thing's being mentioned.'

      'Why, I told 'em so, sir,' said Jacob; 'ugly one, says I, she you call the ugly one, is one of the best ladies in the land. She's ready to lend a hand to every mortal soul; she's just like my master for that. And as to learning, I make no quæry she can talk you over the Latin grammar as fast as e'er a gentleman here. So then they laughed harder than ever, and said they should be afeard to speak to her, and a deal more I can't call to mind. – So then they come to Mr. Mandlebert. Pray, says they, what's he doing among you all this time? – Why, nothing particular, says I, he's only squiring about our young ladies. – But when is this wedding to be? says another. So then I said – '

      'What did you say?' cried Edgar hastily.

      'Why – nothing,' answered Jacob, drawing back.

      'Tell us, however, what they said,' cried Miss Margland.

      'Why, they said, says they, everything has been ready some time at Beech Park; – and they'll make as handsome a couple as ever was seen.'

      'What stuff is this!' cried Edgar, 'do prithee have done.' —

      'No, no,' said Miss Margland; 'go on, Jacob!'

      Indiana, conscious and glowing at the words handsome couple, could not restrain a simper; but Edgar, thinking only of Camilla, did not understand it.

      'He'll have trouble enough, says one of the gentlemen,' continued Jacob, 'to take care of so pretty a wife. – She'll be worth a little trouble, says another, for I think she is the most beautifullest girl I ever see – Take my word of it, says the lady of the house, young Mandlebert is a man who won't be made a fool of; he'll have his own way, for all her beauty.'

      'What a character to give of me to young ladies!' cried Edgar, doubtful, in his turn, whether to be hurt or gratified.

      'O she did not stop at that, sir,' resumed Jacob, 'for she said, I make no question, says she, but in half a year he'll lock her up.'

      Indiana, surprized, gave an involuntary little shriek: but Edgar, not imputing it to any appropriate alarm, was filled with resentment against Mrs. Arlbery. What incomprehensible injustice! he said to himself: O Camilla! is it possible any event, any circumstance upon earth, could induce me to practise such an outrage? to degenerate into such a savage?

      'Is this all?' asked Miss Margland.

      'No, ma'am; but I don't know if Miss will like to hear the rest.'

      'O yes,' said Indiana, 'if it's about me, I don't mind.'

      'Why, they all said, Miss, you'd make the most finest bride that ever was seen, and they did not wonder at Mr. Mandlebert's chusing you; but for all that – .'

      He stopt, and Edgar, who, following the bent of his own thoughts, had till now concluded Camilla to be meant, was utterly confounded by discovering his mistake. The presence of Indiana redoubled the awkwardness of the situation, and her blushes, and the increased lustre of her eyes, did not make the report seem either unwelcome, or perfectly new to her.

      Miss Margland raised her head triumphantly. This was precisely such a circumstance as she flattered herself would prove decisive.

      The Baronet, equally pleased, returned her nod of congratulation, and nodding himself towards Edgar, said; 'you're blown, you see! but what matters secrets about nothing? which, Lord help me, I never knew how to keep.'

      Edgar was now still more disconcerted, and, from mere distress what to say or do, bid Jacob go on.

      'Why then, they said a deal more, how pretty she was, he continued, but they did not know how it would turn out, for the young lady was so much admired, that her husband had need look sharp after her; and if – '

      'What complete impertinence!' cried Edgar, walking about the room; 'I really can listen no longer.'

      'If he had done wisely, says the lady of the house, he would have left the professed beauty, and taken that pretty Camilla.'

      Edgar surprized, stopt short; this seemed to him less impertinent.

      'Camilla is a charming creature, says she; though she may want a little watching too; but so does every thing that is worth having.'

      That woman does not want discernment, thought Edgar, nor she does not want taste. – I can never totally dislike her, if she does such justice to Camilla.

      He now again invited Jacob to proceed; but Indiana, with a pouting lip, walked out of the room, and Miss Margland said, there was not need to be hearing him all night.

      Jacob, therefore, when no more either interrupted or encouraged, soon finished his narrative. Mrs. Arlbery, amused by watching Dr. Orkborne, had insisted, for an experiment, that Jacob should not return to the coach till he was missed and called for; and so intense was the application of the Doctor to what he was composing, that this did not happen till the whole family had dined; Jacob and the coachman, at the invitation of Mrs. Arlbery, having partaken of the servants' fare, equally pleased with the regale and the joke. Dr. Orkborne then, suddenly recollecting himself, demanded why the young ladies were so late, and was much discomposed and astonished when he heard they were gone. Mrs. Arlbery invited him into the house, and offered him refreshments, while she ordered water and a feed of corn for the horses; but he only fretted a little, and then went on again with his studies.

      Sir Hugh now sent some cold dinner into the Doctor's room, and declared he should always approve his niece's acquaintance with Mrs. Arlbery, as she was so kind to his servants and his animals.

      CHAPTER VI

       An Author's Idea of Order

      Not a bosom of the Cleves party enjoyed much tranquillity this evening.