VANCE.—“Immaterial! I can easily imagine that you have one. I want merely an outline of figure,—something sprawling and ungainly.”
LIONEL (sulkily).—“Much obliged to you; imagine that too.”
VANCE.—“Don’t be so disobliging. It is necessary that she should look fondly at something,—expression in the eye.” Lionel at once reclined himself incumbent in a position as little sprawling and ungainly as he could well contrive.
VANCE.—“Fancy, Miss Sophy, that this young gentleman is very dear to you. Have you got a brother?”
SOPHY.—“Ah, no, sir.”
VANCE.—“Hum. But you have, or have had, a doll?”
SOPHY.—“Oh, yes; Grandfather gave me one.”
VANCE.—“And you were fond of that doll?”
SOPHY.—“Very.”
VANCE.—“Fancy that young gentleman is your doll grown big, that it is asleep, and you are watching that no one hurts it; Mr. Rugge, for instance. Throw your whole soul into that thought,—love for doll, apprehension of Rugge. Lionel, keep still, and shut your eyes; do.”