“More!--you unconscionable wretch! how much more?” said Lady Jane. “Infinitely more,” said Mr. Percy: “I expect a man of sense, temper, and virtue, who would love my daughter as she deserves to be loved.” “Let me advise you,” said Lady Jane, in her very gravest tone, “not to puff up Caroline’s imagination with a parcel of romantic notions.--I never yet knew any good done by it. Depend on it you will be disappointed, if you expect a genius to descend from the clouds express for your daughters. Let them do as other people do, and they may have a chance of meeting with some good sort of men, who will make them as happy as--as happy as their neighbours.” “And how happy is that?” said Caroline: “as happy as we are now?” “As you are now!” said Lady Jane: “a vastly pretty maidenly speech! But young ladies, nevertheless, usually think that the saffron robe of Hymen would not be the most unbecoming dress in the world; and whether it be in compliance with their daughters’ taste, or their own convenience, most parents are in a hurry to purchase it.” “Sometimes at the expense of their daughters’ happiness for life,” said Mrs. Percy. “Well, lest we should go over the same ground, and get into the same labyrinth, where we lost ourselves this morning, let me come to the point at once.--May I hope, Mr. and Mrs. Percy, to have the pleasure of Caroline’s company at Tunbridge next week, and in town next winter, or not?--That is the question.” “That is a question which your ladyship will be so good as to ask Caroline, if you please,” said Mr. Percy; “both her mother and I wish that she should decide for herself.” “Indeed?” cried Lady Jane: “then, my dear Caroline, if you please, come with me this minute to my dressing-room, and we’ll settle it all at my _toilette de nuit_. I have a notion,” added her ladyship, as she drew Caroline’s arm within hers, and led her out of the room, “I have a notion that I shall not find you quite so impracticable as your father has shown himself.” “You may leave us, Keppel,” said Lady Jane to her maid, as she went into her dressing-room--“I will ring when I want you.--My love,” said she to Caroline, who stood beside her dressing-table, “why did not you let Keppel dress your hair to-day?--But no matter--when I once get you to town, we’ll manage it all our own way. I have a notion that you are not of a positive temper.” Caroline coloured at this speech. “I see what are you thinking of,” said Lady Jane, mistaking her countenance; “and to tell you the truth, I also am sadly afraid, by what I see, that we shall hardly gain our point. I know your father--some difficulty will be started, and ten to one he will not allow me to have you at last, unless you try and persuade him yourself.” “I never try to persuade my father to do any thing.” “What, then, he is not a man to be persuaded?” “No,” said Caroline, smiling; “but what is much better, he is a man to be convinced.”