"Ahem!" said the Squire, evidently flattered, and yet not convinced. "My brother Will is a very acute fellow, and I make no—my dear little girl—question, but that—(when you have seen as much of the world as I have, you will grow suspicious,)—he thought that any good word said of me to my daughter, would—(you see, Lucy, I am as clear-sighted as my neighbours, though I don't give myself all their airs; which I very well might do, considering my great great great grandfather Hugo Brandon, had a hand in detecting the Gunpowder plot,)—be told to me again!"
"Nay, but I am quite sure my uncle never spoke of you to me with that intention."
"Possibly, my dear child; but when (the evenings are much shorter than they were!) did you talk with your uncle about me?"
"Oh, when staying with Mrs. Warner, in London; to be sure, it is six years ago, but I remember it perfectly. I recollect, in particular, that he spoke of you very handsomely to Lord Mauleverer, who dined with him one evening when I was there, and when my uncle was so kind as to take me to
