"A most unreasonable person, and a disgrace to our sex," said Hoffland. "To tell a young lady that the manner in which she proposes appearing at a ball is uninteresting, sounds like Ernest."
Mowbray smiled; the pleasant banter of the boy pleased him, and diverted his thoughts.
"But Ernest is not such a perfect ogre, Mr. Hoffland," said Lucy; "are you, Ernest? He is very kind, and is going to spend all day to-morrow with me."
"Now, brother!" said Lucy; "you know you can."
Mowbray hesitated.
"Won't you?"
"Well, yes, Lucy," said Mowbray, smiling; "I can refuse you nothing."
"Good!" cried Hoffland, with the sonorous voice of a man-at-arms; "when ladies once determine to have their own way, it is nearly impossible to stop them; is it not, Mr. Denis?"
"I will answer for Mr. Denis, and repel your assault, sir," said Lucy, smiling; "I think that there is nothing very wrong in what I ask, and why then should I not have my way?"