Camilla, laughing, though extremely ashamed, said, she knew nothing at all about him.
'You talked with him, then, by way of experiment, to see how you might like him?'
'No, indeed! I merely answered him when I could not help it; but still I thought, at a ball, gentlemen only would present themselves.'
'And how many couple,' said Mrs. Arlbery, smiling, 'do you calculate would, in that case, stand up?'
She then ordered one of the beaux who attended her, to bring her a chair, and told another to fetch her the locket. Edgar was again advancing to Camilla, when Lionel, whose desire to obtain the good graces of Mrs. Arlbery, had suggested to him an anticipation of her commands, pushed forward with the locket.
'Well, really, it is not ugly,' cried she, taking it in her hand: 'Have you put in yet, Miss Tyrold?'
'No, ma'am.'
'O, I am vastly glad of that; for now we will try our fortune together.'
Camilla, though secretly blushing at what she felt was an extravagance, could not withstand this invitation: she gave her half guinea.
Edgar, disappointed, retreated in silence.