Volume I Part 76 (1/2)
”My brother,” said Charlton.
”I don't mean your brother, Captain Rossitur,” said Thorn, throwing himself off his horse.
He joined the party, who were just leaving the mill to go down towards the house. Very much at his leisure, Charlton dismounted, and came after him.
”I have brought Charlton safe home, Miss Ringgan,” said Thorn, who, leading his horse, had quietly secured a position at her side.
”What's the matter?” said Fleda, laughing. ”Couldn't he bring himself home?”
”I don't know what's the matter, but he's been uncommonly dumpish; we've been as near as possible to quarrelling for half a dozen miles back.”
”We have been ? a ? more agreeably employed,” said Dr.
Quackenboss, looking round at him with a face that was a concentration of affability.
”I make no doubt of it, Sir; I trust we shall bring no unharmonious interruption. If I may change somebody else's words,” he added more low to Fleda ? ” 'disdain itself must convert to courtesy in your presence.' ”
”I am sorry disdain should live to pay me a compliment,” said Fleda. ”Mr. Thorn, may I introduce to you, Mr. Olmney?”
Mr. Thorn honoured the introduction with perfect civility, but then fell back to his former position and slightly lowered tone.
”Are you then a sworn foe to compliments?”
”I was never so fiercely attacked by them as to give me any occasion.”
”I should be very sorry to furnish the occasion; but what's the harm in them, Miss Ringgan?”
”Chiefly a want of agreeableness.”
”Of agreeableness! Pardon me; I hope you will be so good as to give me the rationale of that?”
”I am of Miss Edgeworth's opinion, Sir,” said Fleda, blus.h.i.+ng, ” that a lady may always judge of the estimation in which she is held, by the conversation which is addressed to her.”
”And you judge compliments to be a doubtful indication of esteem!”
”I am sure you do not need information on that point, Sir.”
”As to your opinion, or the matter of fact?” said he, somewhat keenly.
”As to the matter of fact,” said Fleda, with a glance both simple and acute in its expression.
”I will not venture to say a word,” said Thorn, smiling.
”Protestations would certainly fall flat at the gates where _les douces paroles_ cannot enter. But do you know this is picking a man's pocket of all his silver pennies, and obliging him to produce his gold?”
”That _would_ be a hard measure upon a good many people,” said Fleda, laughing. ”But they're not driven to that. There's plenty of small change left.”
”You certainly do not deal in the coin you condemn,” said Thorn, bowing. ”But you will remember that none call for gold but those who can exchange it, and the number of them is few.
In a world where cowrie pa.s.ses current, a man may be excused for not throwing about his guineas.”
”I wish you'd throw about a few for our entertainment,” said Charlton, who was close behind. ”I haven't seen a yellow-boy in a good while.”