Miss Glanville, who with a malicious pleasure had secretly triumphed in the extravagancies her beautiful cousin had been guilty of, was now sensibly disappointed to find they had had so little effect on her father and brother; for instead of reflecting upon the absurdities to which they had been a witness, Mr. Glanville artfully pursued the subject Arabella had just before been expatiating upon, taking notice frequently of some observations of hers, and by a well contrived repetition of her words, obliged his father a second time to declare that his niece had spoken extremely well.
Mr. Glanville taking the word, launched out into such praises of her wit, that Miss Glanville, no longer able to listen patiently, replied—
It was true Lady Bella sometimes said very sensible things; that it was a great pity she was not always in a reasonable way of thinking, or that her intervals were not longer—
Her intervals, miss! said Glanville, pray what do you mean by that expression?—
Why, pray, said Miss Glanville, don't you think my cousin is sometimes a little wrong in the head?
Mr. Glanville at these words starting from his chair, took a turn across the room in great discomposure: then stopping all of a sudden, and giving his sister a furious look——Charlotte, said he, don't give me cause to think you are envious of your cousin's superior excellencies——
Envious! repeated Miss Glanville, I envious of my cousin—I vow I should never have thought of that—Indeed, brother, you are much mistaken; my cousin's superior excellencies never gave me a moment's disturbance—Though I must confess her unaccountable whims have often excited my pity—
No more of this, Charlotte, interrupted Mr. Glanville, as you value my friendship—no more of it——
Why, really, son, said Sir Charles, my niece has very strange whimsies sometimes. How it came into her head to think Mr. Tinsel would attempt to carry her away, I can't imagine. For after all, he only pressed rather too rudely into her chamber, for which, as you see, I have forbidden his visits.
That was of a piece, said Miss Glanville sneeringly to her brother, with her asking you if you had made Mr. Tinsel swear upon your sword, that he would never again attempt to carry her away; and applauding you for having given him his liberty, as the generous Atermens did on the same occasion.