human
I must go, I think. I will change my dress. I have engaged to dine with Mr. Byles, Mrs. Stringer, and, in the hospitable Old Dominion, I suppose I must pass the night there; but I shall set out in the cool to-morrow morning, and meet you all at breakfast.
gpt
Good-bye, for the present, my sweet cousin,
human
Farewell, Richard--farewell!
gpt
Going to dine with Mr. Byles! What, my old friend Billy Byles? Hang me, if I don't go with you. No one needs an invitation in Virginia, and you will give me a seat in your buggy, I dare say.
human
I have no buggy with me, I said, laughing.
gpt
I go on horseback; but I'll take you up behind me if you like.
human
Oh, no, answered he,
gpt
I have a double-seated drotsky here, and as pretty a pair of little tits as ever were driven. I will drive you over, and we will take your broken-headed man Zed behind, to look after the traps. Come, let us go and make ready.
human
Do you know why I come with you?
gpt
No, indeed, I answered,
human
No, indeed, returned Mr. Wheatley, with one of his short laughs;
gpt
I never saw bold Billy but twice in my life. I came to take care of you.
human
You are really very considerate, Mr. Wheatley,
gpt
Very gallant, you mean, rejoined my companion.
human
You must know there is a young lady, with the most beautiful hair, and eyes, and teeth, and lips in the world, and the prettiest foot and ankle, and the most charming little hand, who has got it into her dear little head, that Sir Richard Conway is going to fight some giant or some windmill, and was diplomatizing with me all last night to see if I could not, or would not, tell her all about it, imagining that I had come up to be your second. Now as I was convinced she was in the right--ladies always are right in everything--and knowing that Billy Byles is not the safest man in the world to trust in such matters, I determined to go over with you to act as a sort of moderator.
gpt
I am much obliged to you, I answered, a little mortified,
human
Pray, my dear Sir Richard, interrogated Mr. Wheatley,
gpt
It would seem all ladies do not take it so quietly, from what you tell me of Miss Davenport.
human
Oh, that's quite a different case, said Mr. Wheatley, with a merry glance of the eye.
gpt
She is not your wife yet, you know. She has no chance of being an interesting widow, whose husband was killed in a duel. But, joking apart, for I see you wince, Miss Davenport has cause to dislike duels. Her father was killed in a duel by a dear friend and near connection, all in consequence of a confounded mistake; and his death was followed by a long train of law-suits and misfortunes, quite sufficient to give her a horror of the pleasant little practice of being shot at without pay. By the way, I don't think she knows one-half of her own history, poor girl! he added, in a meditative tone;