human
Singular now, what different replies people give to the same question, said her companion.
gpt
Most young ladies say, oh, no, Mr. Evan! Or, how can you ask such things, Mr. Conway? Or, dear me, what makes you think so? You may imagine how much refreshed I feel, when a young lady makes an answer which shows something like thought and originality. Pray who taught you to sing?
human
I believe, I taught myself,
gpt
Very industrious of you! said he smiling.
human
It is a great exertion to teach oneself anything. One has to undergo the double labour of master and scholar--both hard situations. Do you like the society in this neighbourhood?
gpt
I know nothing of it. I arrived to-day, just before dinner.
human
But the general aspect of it--do pronounce an opinion. What a combination of grace and intelligence in the ladies! and--and--what is the corresponding virtue in the gentlemen?
gpt
I cannot tell,
human
Oh! let us come to a decision--or, suppose we illustrate. The man opposite, whom that amiable girl is trying to encourage, mistaking awkwardness for shyness,--is he your beau-ideal?
gpt
I will not tell you,
human
Poor Humphries! said Mr. Evan, still looking at the couple on the other side.
gpt
He will go home now, and swear she is his devoted admirer! How well Miss Bremer hits off a scene of that kind in the new novel of the H---- Family.
human
I recollect it,
gpt
His letter to his brother--ha! ha!--You ladies see the bye-play of society so very keenly.
human
I am not an authoress,
gpt
I am aware of that. You do not look in the least like one, I can assure you.
human
What do they look like, then?
gpt
Green spectacles, frizzled hair, which they obstinately refuse to cover with a cap. Large hands in black mittens--ditto feet, in villainous thick shoes. In fact, every thing that is most odious in women, and to crown all, when they walk abroad, or take the air, or whatever phrase they may employ to indicate their savage peregrinations, they exhibit to the world an old straw bonnet adorned with a broken black feather--this costume is invariable.
human
I do not believe that picture to be always correct,
gpt
But it has entirely answered my purpose, it has made you laugh; and a genuine merry laugh is not a thing to be met with every day in the week.
human
But a description is of no value if it is devoid of truth,
gpt
Truth, my dear Miss Capel, is a very excellent lady or gentleman, (I am not quite certain of the gender) and I do not dispute its value; for you may have often remarked that the things are valuable in proportion to their scarcity. The most ill-favoured curiosities fetch a high price in the market. Nobody denies that truth is scarce enough to be a curiosity, and in most cases a very ill-favoured one. You don't agree with me, and I'm very sorry for it--but I cannot alter my opinion.
human
I was not going to oppose it, said Margaret.
gpt
I have no mania for making converts.
human
No. You were merely saying to yourself that you had come in the way of a monstrous odd person. That you did not agree with a word he said; but that it was not worth while to oppose the fancies of a passing acquaintance.
gpt
Now, by way of returning good for evil, I will give you some excellent advice. Never touch either curry or ice at this house. They do not manage well the two extremes of hot and cold. The curry is stuffed with rhubarb, and the ice with ground-glass. I found a splinter in my mouth the other day. On the contrary, their farm yard is famous--no end of chickens and turkies, and fresh eggs and cream; it is quite a country-house you see. Well, it is very hard you will not believe any thing I say.
human
I was not going to contradict you,
gpt
But you have no idea how transparent your countenance is. It will take four or five years more before you will be able to conceal your sentiments. You did not think, when first I was introduced to you, that I was such a _causeur_. But, reflect, my dear Miss Capel, upon the extreme difficulty of keeping up any kind of conversation with my sister Harriet. A single word introduced edgeways, is the amount of any one's share in a dialogue with her. She is fond of talking, and so am I; and, of course, as a lady, I always yield her the precedence. Do not run away with the idea that I am a satirical person. I am by no means rapid in detecting the weak points in my neighbour's characters. Do you mean to hunt next Tuesday?
human
Oh, no!
gpt
Why not? Harriet would give you an infallible mount; I believe that is their phrase. For my own part, I never was on a horse in my life.
human
Oh! am I to believe that?
gpt
Why not? It is out of my line. Depend upon it, there is something in the atmosphere of a stable that impairs a man's brains, supposing he sets out in life with any; and the few I may possess are the only means of earning salt to my porridge. I have, therefore, always rather shunned four-footed animals. But that reason does not apply to you.
human
Not exactly that reason; but it is equally out of my line. I mean hunting, for I am very fond of riding. It is very becoming to Harriet; but in me, it would be only an imitation, and a very awkward one.
gpt
You do seem to be one of those whom the winds of Heaven should not visit too roughly, said Mr. Evan.
human
What, rising already? Harriet is in a great hurry to dissolve the house to-night. Will you sit next me to-morrow?