“ I am glad of it. He seems a most gentleman-like man; and I think, Elinor, I may congratulate you on the prospect of a very respectable establishment in life, ”
“ Me, brother! What do you mean? ”
“ He likes you. I observed him narrowly, and am convinced of it. What is the amount of his fortune? ”
“ I believe about two thousand a year. ”
“ Two thousand a year? ” and then working himself up to a pitch of enthusiastic generosity, he added: “ Elinor, I wish with all my heart it were twice as much for your sake. ”
A laugh assured Miss Taverner that this passage had struck her cousin just as she believed it must. She said, closing the volume: “Surely the writer of that must possess a most lively mind? I am determined to take this book. It seems all to be written about ordinary people, and, do you know, I am quite tired of Sicilians and Italian Counts who behave in such a very odd way. Sense and Sensibility! Well, after Midnight Bells and Horrid Mysteries that has a pleasant ring, don’t you agree?”
“Undoubtedly. I think it has not yet come in my way, but if you report well of it I shall certainly bespeak it. Are you walking? May I be your escort?”
“My carriage is waiting outside. I have to call at Jones’s for Mrs. Scattergood. I wish you may accompany me.”
He was all compliance, and having handed her into the carriage, took his seat beside her, and said with a grave look: “I believe my father has been to call on you this morning.”
She inclined her head. “Yes, my uncle was with us for about an hour.”