"Indeed!—I did not know you had seen him."
"Yes—we met him at Smith's."
"Oh! you saw him in a shop, did you?—and even that was sufficient to prove him delightful?"
"Quite enough!" replied Mary, colouring a little as she observed Major Dalrymple smile.
"The more you see of him, the more you will be aware of his excellence," said Fanny, coming to the aid of her friend, and with an air of gravity that was intended to check the levity of the major. "I have seen him repeatedly at the Park, Major Dalrymple, and under circumstances that gave sufficient opportunity to show the excellence of his heart, as well as the charm of his friendly, affectionate, and graceful manner."
"He has certainly been a very handsome man," said the major.
"Has been!" exclaimed both the girls at once.
"He is still very well-looking," added the gentleman.
"Well-looking!" was again indignantly echoed by the ladies.
"You do not think the term strong enough? but when a man gets on the wrong side of forty it is, I think, as much as he can expect."