“Why nothing-nothing’s the matter. O mon Dieu!”

And she rose, and walked about the room.

“Why, what,-has Monseer sent to you?” continued the Captain: “is that there letter from him?”

“No,-it i’n’t;-besides, if it is, it’s nothing to you.”

“O then, I’m sure it is! Pray now, Madam, don’t be so close; come tell us all about it-what does he say? how did he relish the horse-pond?-which did he find best, sousing single or double? ‘Fore George, ’twas plaguy unlucky you was not with him!”

“It’s no such a thing, Sir,” cried she, very angrily; “and if you’re so very fond of a horse-pond, I wish you’d put yourself into one, and not be always a thinking about other people’s being served so.”

The man then came in to acquaint her they could not overtake the boy. She scolded violently, and was in such perturbation, that Lady Howard interfered, and begged to know the cause of her uneasiness, and whether she could assist her.

Madame Duval cast her eyes upon the Captain and Sir Clement, and said she should be glad to speak to her Ladyship without so many witnesses.

“Well, then, Miss Anville,” said the Captain, turning to me, “do you and Molly go into another room, and stay there till Mrs. Duval has opened her mind to us.”

“So you may think, Sir,” cried she, “but who’s fool then? no, no, you needn’t trouble yourself to make a ninny of me neither, for I’m not so easily taken in, I’ll assure you.”