‘Have you come to Pericles’ oration? I must show you some notes that I have on that. Don’t you get into the spirit of it now?’
‘Up-hill work still,’ answered Guy, disentangling some cinders from the silky curls of Bustle’s ear.
‘Which do you like best—that or the ball?’ asked Charles.
‘The hay-field best of all,’ said Guy, releasing Bustle, and blinding him with a heap of hay.
‘Of course!’ said Charlotte, ‘who would not like hay-making better than that stupid ball?’
‘Poor Charlotte!’ said Mrs. Edmonstone; commiseration which irritated Charlotte into standing up and protesting,
‘Mamma, you know I don’t want to go.’
‘No more do I, Charlotte,’ said her brother, in a mock consoling tone. ‘You and I know what is good for us, and despise sublunary vanities.’
‘But you will go, Guy,’ said Laura; ‘Philip is really going.’
‘In spite of Lord Kilcoran’s folly in going to such an expense as either taking Allonby or giving the ball,’ said Charles.