“Yes; you are a hard, disagreeable creature.”
“But such a relief after my poor Charlotte. Now tell me what is the matter with you.”
“Nothing except ill-temper. At least—to say the truth, I hardly can tell you.”
“Nonsense. You can tell me anything, after the stream of nonsense I have heard at different times from you.”
“But this isn’t nonsense. Lord Florencecourt wants me to marry one of your sisters.”
“Well, I dare say you could get one of them to have you, if I backed you up. You see I am so out of the running that they think a good deal of my advice.”
“Don’t tease. He really has set his heart upon it.”
“And pray, my lord commander-in-chief, don’t you think you might do much worse? They are both as pretty as peaches, perfectly sweet and good, and either would worship you meekly and mildly as a god and a hero; besides which they have other and more substantial advantages, and you would have the satisfaction of cutting out many better men.”
“You are very cheeky this evening.”
“Do you know I used to think you rather admired Charlotte?”