Once more, then, the three sisters met that night in Fanny’s bedroom. The two younger could now look on her without their feeling of awe. They were on the verge of being indignant with Mrs. Burney for having made no reference whatever since returning from the Reynoldses to the subject of Sir Joshua’s eulogy.
“Not once did she mention the name of ‘Evelina’ to the padre; Sir Joshua might just as well have talked of Miss Hersehel’s comet to her,” said Susy.
“And after our schooling ourselves so rigidly to give no sign that we were in any measure connected with the book too—it was cruel!” said Lottie.
“It was not as if the padre did not give her a good chance more than once,” continued Susy. “Did he not ask if anyone had given her any news? And what did she answer?—Why, only that someone had said that Mr. Fox had lost a fortune a few nights ago at faro! As if anybody cares about Mr. Fox! I was prepared for her opening out at once to him about the book—maybe begging him to send Williams to buy it at Mr. Lowndes’.”
“What, at seven-and-sixpence!” cried Fanny. “My dear child, do you know mamma no better than to fancy that?”
“What I don’t know is how she resisted it,” said Lottie. “Oh, you heard how Sir Joshua talked about it; and Miss Reynolds too—she praised it up to the skies.”
“Other people in the painting-room as well as in the drawing-room were talking of it,” said Susy. “I heard the beautiful Miss Horneck speak of it to the lady with the big muff and the rose taffeta with the forget-me-not embroidery.”
“I am sure that everybody was speaking of it—I could hear the name ‘Evelina’ buzzing round the rooms,” cried Lottie.
“Yes; everyone was talking about it, and only mamma was silent—is silent. I don’t think that at all fair,” continued Susy.
Fanny laughed.