'Oh! You ask the name of the lady. And I too. What is it? I have heard
two or three names.'
'Then you have heard villanies.'
'Denham, Jenny Denham, Miss Jenny Denham,' said Palmet, rejoiced at the
opportunity of trumpeting her name so that she should not fail to hear
it.
'I stake my reputation I have heard her called Shrapnel--Miss Shrapnel,'
said Cecil.
The doctor glanced hastily from one to the other of his visitors. 'The
young lady is my ward; I am her guardian,' he said.
Cecil pursed his mouth. 'I have heard her called your niece.'
'Niece--ward; she is a lady by birth and education, in manners,
accomplishments, and character; and she is under my protection,' cried
Dr. Shrapnel.
Cecil bowed. 'So you are for gentle birth? I forgot you are for
morality too, and for praying; exactly; I recollect. But now let me tell
you, entirely with the object of conciliation, my particular desire is to
see the young lady, in your presence of course, and endeavour to persuade
her, as I have very little doubt I shall do, assuming that you give me
fair play, to exercise her influence, on this occasion contrary to yours,
and save my cousin Captain Beauchamp from a fresh misunderstanding with
his uncle Mr. Romfrey. Now, sir; now, there!'
'You will not see Miss Denham with my sanction ever,' said Dr. Shrapnel.
'Oh! Then I perceive your policy. Mark, sir, my assumption was that the
young lady would, on hearing my representations, exert herself to heal
the breach between Captain Beauchamp and his family. You stand in the
way. You treat me as you treated the lady who came here formerly to
wrest your dupe from your clutches. If I mistake not, she saw the young
lady you acknowledge to be your ward.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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