"That would be a severe reproach to my forwardness, William Delaware," replied the young lady, "if I had not a good motive _in petto_. Besides, I find that, in days of yore, when we were all children, and my good father was alive, that you and I and Blanche, and my brother Henry, have had many a rude game of play among the old trees of Emberton Park. But let us speak to the point, as we may have little time to speak at all. An old friend of yours and mine, good Dr. Wilton, has written to me a long letter, two or three days ago, giving me an account of all this unfortunate business between your father and my uncle, and desiring me, if you ever came to town again, to do my best to forward your views. Now, the truth is, I have no more influence with Lord Ashborough than that screen." "With a thousand thanks for your kind interest," replied Captain Delaware, "I should still be sorry to owe, even to your influence, what I could not obtain from justice." "Pride! pride!" cried Miss Beauchamp, "the fault of men and angels! But, let me tell you, my dear cousin, that no man or men have any right to be proud in a woman's presence; for ye are a mere race of bullies at the best, and bow like the veriest slave whenever we choose to tyrannize over you. But to the point. Listen to my sage advice. I was saying, that I had no more influence with my Lord Ashborough than that screen. I am a mere piece of household furniture; and I dare say that I am to be found written down in the inventory thus: 'Front drawing-room--Three tables, four-and-twenty chairs, four sofas, three chaises longues, _a niece_.' I do believe my uncle, when I refused the Honorable Mr. What's-his-name, the other day, which mortally offended his lordship, thought of having me transferred to the schedule of fixtures forthwith. But, nevertheless, as I am a hearing and seeing piece of furniture, I have learned that the only way to manage the Earl of Ashborough, is to be firm, steady, somewhat haughty, and a good deal stern. Remember all this, my dearly beloved cousin, and make use of the hint. But I hear his lordship's morning step, when the neat boot is first, for that day, fitted on to the neat foot. So I will to the breakfast room; and do not forget, when you meet me, to wish me good-morrow in set form and civil terms, and take care that you do not look conscious." Thus saying, the gay girl ran lightly through the long suite of rooms, leaving Captain Delaware standing nearly where she had found him, with a good deal of admiration at her beauty, and a good deal of surprise at the mingling of kindness both with levity and with the slightest possible spice of coquetry, which she had displayed in their brief conversation.