'Why, I told 'em so, sir,' said Jacob; 'ugly one, says I, she you call the ugly one, is one of the best ladies in the land. She's ready to lend a hand to every mortal soul; she's just like my master for that. And as to learning, I make no quæry she can talk you over the Latin grammar as fast as e'er a gentleman here. So then they laughed harder than ever, and said they should be afeard to speak to her, and a deal more I can't call to mind.--So then they come to Mr. Mandlebert. Pray, says they, what's he doing among you all this time?--Why, nothing particular, says I, he's only squiring about our young ladies.--But when is this wedding to be? says another. So then I said--' 'What did you say?' cried Edgar hastily. 'Why--nothing,' answered Jacob, drawing back. 'Tell us, however, what they said,' cried Miss Margland. 'Why, they said, says they, everything has been ready some time at Beech Park;--and they'll make as handsome a couple as ever was seen.' 'What stuff is this!' cried Edgar, 'do prithee have done.'-- 'No, no,' said Miss Margland; 'go on, Jacob!' Indiana, conscious and glowing at the words handsome couple, could not restrain a simper; but Edgar, thinking only of Camilla, did not understand it. 'He'll have trouble enough, says one of the gentlemen,' continued Jacob, 'to take care of so pretty a wife.--She'll be worth a little trouble, says another, for I think she is the most beautifullest girl I ever see--Take my word of it, says the lady of the house, young Mandlebert is a man who won't be made a fool of; he'll have his own way, for all her beauty.' 'What a character to give of me to young ladies!' cried Edgar, doubtful, in his turn, whether to be hurt or gratified. 'O she did not stop at that, sir,' resumed Jacob, 'for she said, I make no question, says she, but in half a year he'll lock her up.' Indiana, surprized, gave an involuntary little shriek: but Edgar, not imputing it to any appropriate alarm, was filled with resentment against Mrs. Arlbery. What incomprehensible injustice! he said to himself: O Camilla! is it possible any event, any circumstance upon earth, could induce me to practise such an outrage? to degenerate into such a savage? 'Is this all?' asked Miss Margland. 'No, ma'am; but I don't know if Miss will like to hear the rest.' 'O yes,' said Indiana, 'if it's about me, I don't mind.' 'Why, they all said, Miss, you'd make the most finest bride that ever was seen, and they did not wonder at Mr. Mandlebert's chusing you; but for all that--.' He stopt, and Edgar, who, following the bent of his own thoughts, had till now concluded Camilla to be meant, was utterly confounded by discovering his mistake. The presence of Indiana redoubled the awkwardness of the situation, and her blushes, and the increased lustre of her eyes, did not make the report seem either unwelcome, or perfectly new to her.