"What ardent expressions you do use!" said Julia, smiling.
"Of c-course I do; I'm over head and ears in love."
Julia surveyed his proportions, and said, "That's not very deep."
But Percy had got used to this kind of wit, and did not mind it now. He replied with dignity: "It's as deep—as the ocean, and as imp-per-t-t-tur-bable. Confound it! there's your cousin."
"You are not jealous of him, Mr. Imperturbable, are you?" asked
Julia, slyly.
"Jealous?" said Percy, changing color rather suspiciously; "certainly not. Hang him!"
Walter, finding he was discovered, and feeling himself in the way, came out at the back behind them, and said, "Never mind me, you two; far be it from me to deprive the young of their innocent amusements."
Whilst making this little speech he was going off on the points of his toes, intending to slip off to Clifford Hall, and tell his father that both cutting out and untying had proved impossible, but, to his horror, the Colonel emerged from his ambuscade and collared him. Then took place two short contemporaneous dialogues:
Julia. "I'd never marry a jealous man."
Percy. "I never could be jealous. I'm above it. Impossible for a nature like mine to be jealous."