By-and-by I got closer to Min, as we were standing up, talking together and making Dicky go through a few of his tricks on the drawing-room table.
“Min,” said I, softly, bending over her and looking down into her honest, truth-telling grey eyes—“my darling!”
But, at that precise moment, the door opened; and, in walked Mrs Clyde.
Chapter Nine.
Breakers Ahead!
Oh, I see thee, old and formal, fitted to thy petty part,
With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a
daughter’s heart.
“They were dangerous guides the feelings—she herself
was not exempt—
Truly she herself had suffer’d”—perish in thy
self-contempt!
Mrs Clyde’s appearance coming so suddenly upon the scene, acted as an application of the cold douche to all the loving ardour with which I was addressing Min. It completely spoiled the tableau; checking my eager impetuosity in a moment, and causing me to remain, tongue-tied, in a state of almost hopeless embarrassment.
Picture the unexpected presentment of the statue of “The Commander” before Don Giovanni, and his horror at hearing words proceed from marble lips! You will, then, be able to form some faint idea of my feelings, when my pleasant position was thus interrupted by Min’s mother. I was altogether “nonplussed,” to use a vulgar but expressive word.