CHAPTER XLIII

smusthavebeengratifiedtowitness,andthatherowndressandmannersdidherthegreatestcredit.Myfriend,Mrs.Fraser,ismadforsuchahouse,anditwouldnotmakememiserable.IgotoLadyStornawayafterEastersheseemsinhighspirits,andveryhappy.IfancyLordS.isverygood-humouredandpleasantinhisownfamily,andIdonotthinkhimsoveryill-lookingasIdid—atleast,oneseesmanyworse.HewillnotdobythesideofyourcousinEdmund.Ofthelast-mentionedhero,whatshallIsay?IfIavoidedhisnameentirely,itwouldlooksuspicious.Iwillsay,then,thatwehaveseenhimtwoorthreetimes,andthatmyfriendshereareverymuchstruckwithhisgentlemanlikeappearance.Mrs.Fraser(nobadjudge)declaressheknowsbutthreemenintownwhohavesogoodaperson,height,andairandImustconfess,whenhedinedheretheotherday,therewerenonetocomparewithhim,andwewereapartyofsixteen.Luckilythereisnodistinctionofdressnowadaystotelltales,but—but—butYoursaffectionately.” “Ihadalmostforgot(itwasEdmund’sfault:hegetsintomyheadmorethandoesmegood)oneverymaterialthingIhadtosayfromHenryandmyself—ImeanaboutourtakingyoubackintoNorthamptonshire.Mydearlittlecreature,donotstayatPortsmouthtoloseyourprettylooks.Thosevilesea-breezesaretheruinofbeautyandhealth.Mypoorauntalwaysfeltaffectedifwithintenmilesofthesea,whichtheAdmiralofcourseneverbelieved,butIknowitwasso.IamatyourserviceandHenry’s,atanhour’snotice.Ishouldlikethescheme,andwewouldmakealittlecircuit,andshewyouEveringhaminourway,andperhapsyouwouldnotmindpassingthroughLondon,andseeingtheinsideofSt.George’s,HanoverSquare.OnlykeepyourcousinEdmundfrommeatsuchatime:Ishouldnotliketobetempted.Whatalongletter!onewordmore.Henry,Ifind,hassomeideaofgoingintoNorfolkagainupon