"That, if you were indeed Miss Helen Pendarves, you were a great nuisance, for that you had won and broken at least a dozen hearts; but that it was a comfort to know you would soon be removed from the power of doing further mischief, as you were going to be married to a Swiss gentleman, and would soon leave the kingdom."
"And you told him this?" cried I, turning very faint.
"Yes, I did; and he had just turned away from me, when you made your appearance."
Seymour now entered the room; and I was, from this conversation, at no loss to account for the gloom which overspread his countenance, while he hoped Miss Pendarves was well.
"My dear Fanny," said Mr. Ridley, who must have his joke, "I hope you will make proper apologies to this gentleman and me, for having exposed us to such a horrible surprise as the sight of that lady's face has given us. Pray, was this ungenerous plan of concealment Miss Pendarves's or yours?"
"Her's, entirely."
"But what was her motive?"
"She wished to see whether her cousin would know her through her veil."
"Oh! she was acting Clara in the Duenna; you know she plays Don Ferdinand some such trick."
"True; but Ferdinand and Clara were lovers, not cousins."