“Cruel, cruel girl! you know that I adore you! you know you are the mistress of my soul, and arbitress of my fate!”
Mrs. Selwyn then advancing to us, he assumed a more disengaged air, and asked, if he should not have the pleasure of seeing her in the evening at the assembly?
“Oh, yes,” cried she, “we shall certainly be there; so you may bring the verses with you, if Miss Anville can wait for them so long.”
“I hope then,” returned he, “that you will do me the honour to dance with me?”
I thanked him, but said I should not be at the assembly.
“Not be at the assembly?” cried Mrs. Selwyn, “Why, have you, too, letters to write?”
She looked at me with a significant archness, that made me colour; and I hastily answered, “No, indeed, Ma’am!”
“You have not!” cried she, yet more drily; “then pray, my dear, do you stay at home to help,-or to hinder others?”
“To do neither, Ma’am,” answered I, in much confusion; “so, if you please, I will not stay at home.”
“You allow me, then,” said Sir Clement, “to hope for the honour of your hand?”