"Upon my word, Mr Gresham, I am under more than ordinary obligations to you; I am indeed," and Miss Oriel stood still in the path, and made a very graceful curtsy. "Dear me! only think, Lady Margaretta, that I should be honoured with an offer from the heir the very moment he is legally entitled to make one."
"And done with so much true gallantry, too," said the other; "expressing himself quite willing to postpone any views of his own or your advantage."
"Yes," said Patience; "that's what I value so much: had he loved me now, there would have been no merit on his part; but a sacrifice, you know—"
"Yes, ladies are so fond of such sacrifices, Frank, upon my word, I had no idea you were so very excellent at making speeches."
"Well," said Frank, "I shouldn't have said sacrifice, that was a slip; what I meant was—"
"Oh, dear me," said Patience, "wait a minute; now we are going to have a regular declaration. Lady Margaretta, you haven't got a scent-bottle, have you? And if I should faint, where's the garden-chair?"
"Oh, but I'm not going to make a declaration at all," said Frank.
"Are you not? Oh! Now, Lady Margaretta, I appeal to you; did you not understand him to say something very particular?"
"Certainly, I thought nothing could be plainer," said the Lady Margaretta.
"And so, Mr Gresham, I am to be told, that after all it means nothing," said Patience, putting her handkerchief up to her eyes.