“Yes,” said Mr Simkins, obsequiously standing up, “I am sure the gentleman will be very welcome to take my place, for I did not mean for to sit down, only just to look agreeable.” “By no means, Sir,” answered the Captain; “I shall be quite au desespoir if I derange any body.” “Sir,” said Mr Hobson, “I don't offer you my place, because I take it for granted if you had a mind to come in, you would not stand upon ceremony; for what I say is, let every man speak his mind, and then we shall all know how to conduct ourselves. That's my way, and let any man tell me a better!” The Captain, after looking at him with a surprise not wholly unmixt with horror, turned from him without making any answer, and said to Cecilia, “And how long, ma'am, have you tried this petrifying place?” “An hour,--two hours, I believe,” she answered. “Really? and nobody here! assez de monde, but nobody here! a blank partout!” “Sir,” said Mr Simkins, getting out of the box that he might bow with more facility, “I humbly crave pardon for the liberty, but if I understood right, you said something of a blank? pray, Sir, if I may be so free, has there been any thing of the nature of a lottery, or a raffle, in the garden? or the like of that?” “Sir!” said the Captain, regarding him from head to foot, “I am quite assommé that I cannot comprehend your allusion.” “Sir, I ask pardon,” said the man, bowing still lower, “I only thought if in case it should not be above half a crown, or such a matter as that, I might perhaps stretch a point once in a way.” The Captain, more and more amazed, stared at him again, but not thinking it necessary to take any further notice of him, he enquired of Cecilia if she meant to stay late. “I hope not,” she replied, “I have already stayed later than I wished to do.” “Really!” said he, with an unmeaning smile, “Well, that is as horrid a thing as I have the malheur to know. For my part, I make it a principle not to stay long in these semi-barbarous places, for after a certain time, they bore me to that degree I am quite abimé. I shall, however, do mon possible to have the honour of seeing you again.” And then, with a smile of yet greater insipidity, he protested he was reduced to despair in leaving her, and walked on. “Pray, ma'am, if I may be so bold,” said Mr Hobson, “what countryman may that gentleman be?” “An Englishman, I suppose, Sir,” said Cecilia. “An Englishman, ma'am!” said Mr Hobson, “why I could not understand one word in ten that came out of his mouth.” “Why indeed,” said Mr Simkins, “he has a mighty peticklar way of speaking, for I'm sure I thought I could have sworn he said something of a blank, or to that amount, but I could make nothing of it when I come to ask him about it.”