l long to be there! Lady Jones was pleased to say I
looked like an angel: And Mrs. Peters said, I improved upon them every
time they saw me. Lady Darnford was also pleased to make me a fine
compliment, and said, I looked freer and easier every time she saw me.
Dear heart! I wish, thought I, you would spare these compliments; for I
shall have some joke, I doubt, passed on me by-and-by, that will make me
suffer for all these fine things.

Mr. Peters said, softly, God bless you, dear daughter!--But not so much
as my wife knows it.--Sir Simon came in last, and took me by the hand,
and said, Mr. B----, by your leave; and kissed my hand five or six
times, as if he was mad; and held it with both his, and made a very free
jest, by way of compliment, in his way. Well, I think a young rake is
hardly tolerable; but an old rake, and an old beau, are two very sad
things!--And all this before daughters, women-grown!--I whispered my
dearest, a little after, and said, I fear I shall suffer much from Sir
Simon's rude jokes, by-and-by, when you reveal the matter.--'Tis his
way, my dear, said he; you must now grow above these things.--Miss Nanny
Darnford said to me, with a sort of half grave, ironical air,--Well,
Miss Andrews, if I may judge by your easy deportment now, to what it was
when I saw you last, I hope you will let my sister, if you won't me, see
the happy knot tied! For she is quite wild about it.--I courtesied,
and only said, You are all very good to me, ladies.--Mr. Peters's niece
said, Well, Miss Andrews, I hope, before we part, we shall be told the
happy day. My good master heard her, and said, You shall, you shall,
madam.--That's pure, said Miss Darnford.

He took me aside, and said softly, Shall I lead them to the alcove,
and tell them there, or stay till we go in to dinner?--Neither, sir, I
think, said I, I fear I shan't stand it.--Nay, said he, they must know
it; I would not have invited them else.--Why then, sir, said I, let it
alone till they are going away.--Then, replied he, you must pull off
your ring. No, no, sir, said I, that I must not.--Well, said he, do you
tell Miss Darnford of it yourself.--Indeed, sir, answered I, I cannot.

Mrs. Jewkes came officiously to ask my master, just then, if she should
bring a glass of rhenish and sugar before dinner, for the gentlemen and
ladies: And he said, That's well thought of; bring it, Mrs. Jewkes.

And she came, with Nan attending her, with two bottles and glasses, and