“True,” said I “they were hardly polished enough for the sea.”
This I said a demi-voix, and meant only for Mrs. Thrale, but Lord Mulgrave heard and drew up upon them, and pointing his finger at me with a threatening air, exclaimed,
“Don't you speak, Miss Burney? What's this, indeed?”
They all stared, and to be sure I rouged pretty high.
“Miss Burney,” said Mrs. Thrale, “should be more respectful to be sure, for she has a brother at sea herself.”
“I know it,” said he, “and for all her, we shall see him come back from Kamschatka as polished a beau as any he will find.”
Poor Jem! God send him safe back, polished or rough.
Lord Mulgrave's brother Edmund is just entered into the army.
“He told me t'other day,” said his lordship, “that he did not like the thoughts of being a parson.”
“'Very well,' said I, 'you are old enough to choose for yourself; what will you be then?'