‘I am very sorry!’ said Philip. ‘I did think Lady Eveleen would have been able to estimate Thorndale. It will be a great disappointment—the inclination has been of long standing. Poor Thorndale!’
‘It would have been a very good thing for Eva,’ said Amabel. ‘Mr. Thorndale is such a sensible man.’
‘And I thought his steady sense just what was wanting to bring out all her good qualities that are running to waste in that irregular home,’ said Philip. ‘What can have possessed her?’
‘Ay! something must have possessed her,’ said Charles. ‘Eva was always ready to be fallen in love with on the shortest notice, and if there was not something prior in her imagination, Thorndale would not have had much difficulty. By the bye, depend upon it, ‘tis the tutor.’
Philip looked a little startled, but instantly reassuring himself, said,—
‘George Fielder! Impossible! You have never seen him!’
‘Ah! don’t you remember her description!’ said Amy, in a low voice, rather sadly.
The very reason, Amy,’ said Charles; ‘it showed that he had attracted her fancy.’
Philip smiled a little incredulously.
‘Ay!’ said Charles, ‘you may smile, but you handsome men can little appreciate the attractiveness of an interesting ugliness. It is the way to be looked at in the end. Mark my words, it is the tutor.’