"Miss Wetheral," said Captain Ponsonby, "when I quitted Clanmoray, six years ago, I never dreamed of a fair neighbour at Fairlee." "Six years ago I was nursing a doll, Captain Ponsonby." "Even so. You tease your dolls in youth, and tease our hearts in age. Like a falling star, you have shot from your sphere, upon the banks of this lake, and where shall you make your rest?" "You have been some time in Ireland, Captain Ponsonby, and have caught the true hyperbole." "I had no practice there, Miss Wetheral. If I told a lady she was charming, it was 'ah now, you're joking'--and if I advanced with classical allusions, or sparkling metaphor, it was 'ah now, Captain Ponsonby, you're so droll!'" "The Irish ladies possibly guessed your character, Captain Ponsonby, as it appears to have been a general answer. They knew you were either in jest, or sarcastic." "Upon my honour, you are wrong. I am sincere in word and deed. I am neither fair nor false, the motto of some of my neighbours. Don't look this way, Farnborough." "Miss Wetheral," said his lordship, "do not believe half you hear from Ponsonby's lips." "It hit my lord hard, you perceive, Miss Wetheral." "My friend Ponsonby is a rover--sans eyes, sans heart, sans every thing, Miss Wetheral." "Excellent--ha, ha!" laughed Captain Ponsonby. "I can disprove the charge, Miss Wetheral. I was in love three whole days, once, at Castlebar." "And why so speedy a cure?" Christobelle demanded. "The lady kept silence three days," he replied, "but, on the fourth morning, the charm dissolved, for she spoke." "What could she have spoken, to break a spell so powerful, Captain Ponsonby?" "I met the lady in a pouring rain, and, though I had not been introduced to her, we had met often, and were acquainted by name and sight. I offered her my escort and my umbrella. 'Ah, now, Captain Ponsonby, there's rason in what you say, and I'll be obleeged to you'--was her good-humoured reply. I could bear the brogue tolerably, Miss Wetheral, for six months' residence had enured me to its twang; but I could not away with the perfect nonchalance with which she exhibited a pair of enormous ancles, and appealed to me upon their use. 'Ah now, Captain Ponsonby, if I've got no understanding above, there's plenty below, and I'll be charged for two pair of legs through the penny turnpikes.' Farewell the glowing complexion and bright eyes of my love!--I never more gazed upon Miss M'Nab." "Was that your _only_ enlargement of heart, Captain Ponsonby?" "Some few relapses there might have been, but none of any consideration. Miss M'Nab was the most serious love." "You are difficult to please." "No, I think not; but I desire to find a sufficiently lovely woman, with sweetness of temper, and delicacy of manners, to love with constancy. If I ever love sincerely, it will be my life-strings--the very breath of my life."