Now, though it would be very easy to look into the mind of Henry
Burrel, Esq., as he there stands pondering, with his hand leaning on
the table, yet it may be better to pursue him a little farther ere we
take such a liberty, and see him set forth upon his shooting
expedition, in the course of which he approached as near to the
mansion of Emberton Park as he decently could. His expedition was
solitary, however; and if he expected or hoped to meet any of the
family, he was disappointed. No one did he see but an occasional
shepherd, and a hedger and a ditcher; and at three o'clock he returned
home, with nothing to repay his walk but ten brace of birds.
The following morning it was no better; but Burrel seemed resolved
upon another line of conduct, and, at the risk of seeming to intrude.
he called at the house itself as he passed, and, on finding that its
owner was from home, left a card with his compliments and thanks for
the permission which had been granted him. "They will perhaps think me
a presuming coxcomb," he thought; "but I care not." The next day, in
crossing the fields with his dogs and his gun as usual, he suddenly,
met his stage-coach companion, Captain Delaware, with a young lady
leaning upon his arm, whom, from a certain family likeness, he at once
concluded to be the sister of his acquaintance. Her dress was as plain
as possible; but the model was good, and no one could have doubted
that she was a lady, though it is probable that the walking-dress of
the mercer's daughter at Emberton was, beyond comparison, more
fashionable--in price. Her figure was extremely good, though, Heaven
be praised, not at all sylphlike; and all that Burrel remarked was,
that she was a very pretty girl, and had a very pretty foot. Her
brother stopped for a moment; and with a countenance in which various
emotions, strangely mingled, of pleasure and pain, called up an
eloquent glow, he hoped that Burrel had met with good sport,
introduced him to his sister, Miss Delaware, and then, in a manner
somewhat abrupt and embarrassed, bade him good-by, and turned away.
Burrel walked on with his gun under his arm; and for a minute, as he
did so, he bit his nether lip, and his brow slightly contracted. The
moment after, however, he laughed, lightly murmuring, "Well, I must
have recourse to the old miser, after all, though I hate his
instrumentality;" and, turning on his heel, he sauntered back toward
his own abode.
He was suffered to enter in peace; but his Manton was scarcely laid on
the table, and his dogs given into the charge of his servant, when, to
his horror and astonishment, Mr. Tomkins, the surgeon of the village,
was announced, and a smart, dapper little man, of pale and gentlemanly
aspect, made his appearance. Burrel was cool and civil; for it was a
part of his code to be civil to every one till they were insolent;
and, after the usual symphony concerning the weather, Mr. Tomkins
proceeded to the chief motive of his visit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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