"Let us seal the treaty," passing one arm round her waist. "Give me a kiss, Kate—you haven't yet."
"Anything in reason, which sealing treaties in a vista opposite Uncle Bromley's study windows is not."
A few paces rectified that objection; but Dutton relapsed into a brown study, and Kate fell to thinking of Colonel Dashwood; and so they wandered on till the girl spoke again.
"What port have you left your heart in, Harry?"
"My dear, I have none. I left it in your charge when I went to sea, and have never asked for it back again."
"I expect I shall have to return it now, as I think my uncle has some views as to its disposal, and may inquire for it."
"He always has chimeras of that sort. I say, Kate, how perilously plain Geraldine has grown up."
"You discern the finger of Fate there. She has, indeed. I wonder she is not ashamed of herself."
"Speak not thus harshly of a misfortune."
"It's just as much a fault. Do you think I'd submit to be plain? Never. Give me only one good feature, I'd pose up to it, and make it beautify the rest. Large goggle eyes like hers might be thrown up with a heavenly expression—so—(but I am afraid mine are rather earthly). A bad figure even could be rectified. She need not indulge much in the poetry of motion. I am not pretty, but I dare say you never found it out. No, you haven't, so you needn't assume that look of regretful dissent; and I repeat, that any girl so spiritless as to give in to being ugly deserves to be left out in the cold."