'If here is another of your Incognitas, Miss Joddrel,' said Mrs Maple, 'I must beg the favour that you'll desire her to march off at once. I don't chuse to be beset by such sort of gentry quite so frequently. Pray, young woman, what is it you want here?'
'Protection, Madam, and compassion!' replied the stranger, in a tone of supplication.
'I protest,' said Mrs Maple, 'she has just the same sort of voice that that black girl had! and the same sort of cant! And pray, young woman, what's your name?'
'That's right, Mrs Maple, that's right!' cried Ireton; 'make her tell her name!'
'To be sure I shall!' said Mrs Maple, seating herself on a sofa, and taking out her snuff-box. 'I have a great right to know the name of a person that comes, in this manner, into my parlour. Why do you not answer, young woman?'
The stranger, looking at Elinor, clasped her hands in act of entreaty for pity.
'Very fine, truly!' said Mrs Maple: 'So here's just the second edition of the history of that frenchified swindler!'
'No, no, Aunt; it's only the sequel to the first part, for it's the same person, I assure you. Did not you come over with us from France, Mademoiselle? In the same boat? and with the same surly pilot?'
The stranger silently assented.
Mrs Maple, now, doubly enraged, interrogated her upon the motives of her having been so disfigured, with the sternness and sharpness of addressing a convicted cheat.