She could not help feeling a little angry at her cousin's total neglect of the friends whom she had ever been accustomed to treat with affection and respect, but studiously endeavoured to engage their attention, and to prevent their thinking of it. Still, it is never so difficult to talk as when we most try to do so, and, almost for the first time, with them, she felt it tedious to support the conversation.
At length, after giving Lucy two or three games, which her inferior play would never have won, Captain Clair shut up the board, and the two turned round for amusement to the rest of the company.
"Do you know, Mabel," said Lucy, "that Captain Clair came home from Malta with Colonel Hargrave."
"Yes, Mr. Ware told me so."
"Do then join with me in begging a description of him."
"Surely," she replied, "Captain Clair does not need two requests."
"Do then," said Lucy, turning to him, "give us a nice long description of him."
"I really do not know where to begin," said he, "particularly as you say you will see him so soon."
"Oh, yes," said Lucy, with quiet pride, "he is coming to see us in Bath. But now do describe him," she reiterated, with her prettiest look of entreaty.