But you take me by surprise; I was so unprepared for this.

Give me time,--I must reflect." "Reflection is dull work in the country; you can reflect more amusingly in town, my fair cousin." "I will wait, then, till I find myself in town." "Ah, you make me the happiest, the most grateful of men," cried Mr.Vernon, rising, with a semi-genuflection which seemed to imply, "Consider yourself knelt to,"-- just as a courteous assailer, with a motion of the hand, implies, "Consider yourself horsewhipped." Lucretia, who, with all her intellect, had no capacity for humour, recoiled, and looked up in positive surprise.
"I do not understand you, Mr.Vernon," she said, with austere gravity.
"Allow me the bliss of flattering myself that you, at least, are understood," replied Charley Vernon, with imperturbable assurance.

"You will wait to reflect till you are in town,--that is to say, the day after our honeymoon, when you awake in Mayfair." Before Lucretia could reply, she saw the indefatigable valet formally approaching, with the anticipated message that Sir Miles requested to see her.

She replied hurriedly to this last, that she would be with her uncle immediately; and when he had again disappeared within the porch, she said, with a constrained effort at frankness,-- "Mr.Vernon, if I have misunderstood your words, I think I do not mistake your character.

You cannot wish to take advantage of my affection for my uncle, and the passive obedience I owe to him, to force me into a step of which--of which--I have not yet sufficiently considered the results.