'Why, I mean Eu and I and the doctor.'
'I?' exclaimed Mrs. Brimble.
'You—no,' said the squire, recollecting himself, 'Jobson I meant.'
'A strange mistake!' said the lady superciliously. 'You said, "you and I and the doctor."'
'Now, Mary,' said the squire in a whisper, 'just look at him, as he is standing between the two girls; isn't he a fine, handsome fellow? did you ever see any one like him?'
'Dear me, Mr. Brimble! I never saw any one like him but Saunders, our last footman, and he had just the same kind of nose. I see nothing particular in him; and I think it very forward of him to talk to the girls when there is Miss Cruden by.'
The squire laughed; he was afraid of going further; but Mrs. Brimble had not finished. 'Indeed, Mr. Brimble, your indiscretion is beyond everything. Here is a perfect stranger, who, because he happens to be agreeable to you, and is able to talk, is made quite at home among us, and we are expected to treat him like a friend. If you have no regard for your daughters, I have; it surprises me, after all the cautions I have given you, and the number of things I have saved you from, that you will not learn prudence.'
'My dear, you have enough for us all. It's seldom that more than a fair share of wisdom falls to the lot of any family, and you have monopolized all that was intended for the Brimbles. But tell me,' he said, trying to be grave, though the many mischievous twinkles of his eye ought to have betrayed him to so keen a judge of appearances as Mrs. Brimble considered herself to be,—'tell me, Mary, do you really look on Jobson as an impostor?'
'Mr. Brimble,' returned the lady, with an impressive shake of the head, 'I say nothing, but as to proof of the contrary, why, with me there is none, and there is a something about him that is very much Like an adventurer. I may be wrong—I would not be uncharitable; but'—
'Then you wouldn't advise me to let him visit here? in short, you would have me cut him?'