"'Lord, papa, do you think that superiority a recommendation ?—Well, sir, but I see you are going to take all this too seriously; whatever the young lady may be, I am sure, being recommended by you, she shall have no reason to complain of my want of attention.—(After a pause)—Has she any attendant? because you know I must provide for her proper accommodation, if she is without one.'
"'N-no-no-not properly an attendant—the chaplain who lived with her father is a very good sort of man, and I believe I shall make room for him in the house.'
"'Chaplain, papa? Lord bless us!'
"'Yes, Miss Mannering, chaplain; is there anything very new in that word ? Had we not a chaplain at the Residence, when we were in India?'
"'Yes, papa, but you were a commandant then.'
"'So I will be now, Miss Mannering—in my own family at least.'
"'Certainly, sir—but will he read us the Church of England service?'
"The apparent simplicity with which I asked this question got the better of his gravity. 'Come, Julia,' he said, 'you are a sad girl, but I gain nothing by scolding you.—Of these two strangers, the young lady is one whom you cannot fail, I think, to love—the person whom, for want of a better term, I called chaplain, is a very worthy, and somewhat ridiculous personage, who will never find out you laugh at him, if you don't laugh very loud indeed.'
"'Dear papa, I am delighted with that part of his character. — But pray, is the house we are going to as pleasantly situated as this?'
"'Not perhaps as much to your taste—there is no lake under the windows, and you will be under the necessity of having all your music within doors.'