Miss Bursal. Those creatures, the ponies, have a’most pulled my ’and off. Who ’ave we ’ere? Ha! Mrs. Talbot! Louisa, ’ow are ye? I’m so vastly glad to see you; but I’m so shocked to ’ear of the loss of the Bombay Castle. Mrs. Talbot, you look but poorly; but this Montem will put everybody in spirits. I ’ear everybody’s to be ’ere; and my brother tells me, ’twill be the finest ever seen at HEton. Louisa, my dear, I’m sorry I’ve not a seat for you in my curricle for to-morrow; but I’ve promised Lady Betty; so, you know, ’tis impossible for me.
Louisa. Certainly; and it would be impossible for me to leave my mother at present.
Chambermaid (opens the bedchamber door). The room’s ready now, ladies.
Mrs. Talb. Miss Bursal, we intrude upon you no longer.
Miss Burs. Nay, why do you decamp, Mrs. Talbot? I ’ad a thousand things to say to you, Louisa; but am so tired and so annoyed—
(Seats herself. Exeunt Mrs. Talbot, Louisa and Chambermaid.)
Enter Mr. Bursal, with a basin of soup in his hand.
Mr. Burs. Well, thank my stars the Airly Castle is safe in the Downs.
Miss Burs. Mr. Bursal, can you inform me why Joe, my groom, does not make his appearance?
Mr. Burs. (eating and speaking). Yes, that I can, child; because he is with his ’orses, where he ought to be. ’Tis fit they should be looked after well; for they cost me a pretty penny—more than their heads are worth, and yours into the bargain; but I was resolved, as we were to come to this Montem, to come in style.