‘Nay, it is her own impulse.’
‘But she only met him yesterday for the first time.’
‘I assure you Miss Temple is an older friend of Captain Armine than I am,’ said his lordship.
‘Indeed!’ said Miss Grandison, with an air of considerable astonishment.
‘You know they were neighbours in the country.’
‘In the country!’ repeated Miss Grandison.
‘Yes; Mr. Temple, you know, resided not far from Armine.’
‘Not far from Armine!’ still repeated Miss Grandison.
‘Digby,’ said Miss Temple, turning to him at this moment, ‘tell Mr. Glastonbury about your sphinx at Rome. It was granite, was it not?’
‘And most delicately carved. I never remember having observed an expression of such beautiful serenity. The discovery that, after all, they are male countenances is quite mortifying. I loved their mysterious beauty.’