“Dear me, how excessively interesting!” said another of the party.
Now, this was a little event in which Sir Hercules and Lady Hercules stood prominent; it added to their importance for the moment, and therefore they were both pleased. Lady Hercules then said, “And pray, my good man, how is your wife?”
“Quite well and hearty, at your ladyship’s sarvice,” replied my father; “and, please your ladyship, these two be our children.”
“Bless me, how interesting!” exclaimed another lady.
“And remarkably well bred ’uns,” remarked a short gentleman in a fox-hunting coat, examining Virginia through his eye-glass; “coxswain, filly—dam, lady’s maid.”
“What is your name, child?” said Lady Hercules to Virginia.
“Virginia, ma’am,” replied my sister, with a courtesy.
“You must say ‘Lady Hercules,’ my dear,” said my father, stooping down.
“My name is Virginia, Lady Hercules,” replied my sister, courtesying again.
“Indeed; then I suppose you are named after me?”