she pleased; then,
turning to me, said, "Odds bobs! I wish you would hold discourse with
her in your French or Italian, and tell me if she understands it as well
as she would be thought to do. There's her aunt and she will chatter
together whole days in it, and I can't have a mouthful of English for
love or money." I consulted the look of my amiable mistress and found
her averse to his proposal, which indeed she declined with a sweetness
of denial peculiar to herself, as a piece of disrespect to that part of
the company which did not understand the language in question. As I had
the happiness of sitting opposite to her, I feasted my eyes much more
than my palate which she tempted in vain with the most delicious bits
carved by her fair hand, and recommended by her persuasive tongue; but
all my other appetites were swallowed up in immensity of my love,
which I fed by gazing incessantly on the delightful object. Dinner was
scarcely ended, when the squire became very drowsy, and after several
dreadful yawns, got up, stretched himself, took two or three turns
across the room, begged we would allow him to take a short nap, and,
having laid a strong injunction on his sister to detain us till his
return, went to his repose without further ceremony. He had not been
gone many minutes, when Freeman, guessing the situation of my heart, and
thinking he could not do me a greater favour than to leave me alone with
Narcissa, pretended to recollect himself all of a sudden, and, starting
up, begged the lady pardon for half-an-hour, for he had unluckily
remembered an engagement of some consequence, that he must perform at
that instant: so saying, he took his leave, promising to come back time
enough for tea, leaving my mistress and me in great confusion.

Now that I enjoyed an opportunity of disclosing the paintings of
my soul, I had not the power to use it. I studied many pathetic
declarations, but, when I attempted to give them utterance, my tongue
denied its office and she sat silent with a downcast look full of
anxious alarm, her bosom heaving with expectation of some great event.
At length I endeavoured to put an end to this solemn pause, and began
with, "It is very surprising, madam, madam"--here the sound dying away,
I made a full stop; while Narcissa, starting, blushed, and, with a timid
accent answered, "Sir?" Confounded at this note of interrogation, I
pronounced with the most sheepish bashfulness, "Madam!" To which she
replied,