"I only wish that the offer had been made to me," observed Vaughan; "I should not have hesitated as Ponsonby did."
"Then I beg you will not think of proposing for me," said Mrs Lascelles, laughing;—for Mr Vaughan had been excessively attentive.
"It appears to me, Vaughan," observed Seagrove, "that you have slightly committed yourself by that remark."
Vaughan, who thought so too, replied: "Mrs Lascelles must be aware that
I was only joking."
"Fie! Mr Vaughan," cried Cecilia Ossulton; "you know it came from your heart."
"My dear Cecilia," said the elder Miss Ossulton, "you forget yourself— what can you possibly know about gentlemen's hearts?"
"The Bible says, 'that they are deceitful and desperately wicked,' aunt."
"And cannot we also quote the Bible against your sex, Miss Ossulton?" replied Seagrove.
"Yes, you could, perhaps, if any of you had ever read it," replied Miss
Ossulton, carelessly.
"Upon my word, Cissy, you are throwing the gauntlet down to the gentlemen," observed Lord B.; "but I shall throw my warder down, and not permit this combat à l'outrance.—I perceive you drink no more wine, gentlemen, we will take our coffee on deck."