Sanchia, new to courtship, was quietly elated,
and her amusement did nothing to diminish her elation. She had never been
wooed before: there had been nothing of the kind in those shuddering days
when she and Ingram, trembling in each other's sight, had mutely cried
across the waste of London for balm upon their wounds. The flattery of
attentions had never been hers, nor the high credit of admiration so
respectful as the good merchant's. He esteemed her the fairest and holiest
of women, was as timid as a boy in her company, gasped like a fish and
grew unmannerly hot; but I defy a young woman to be anything but
gratified. Miranda shunned Caliban; but had she not rather he had been
there to be shunned?
Thus, under Lady Maria's watchful eye, the thing proceeded, and Mr.
Worthington, within an ace of committing himself, scared his family. The
climax was reached at Kissingen, whither the infatuated gentleman had
followed his charmer.
She was very kind to him, but perfectly clear that she could not, and
would not, make him the happiest of men. She said that she was flattered,
which I believe to have been true, though he deprecated the phrase. "My
dear young lady--ha! I must really be allowed--I assure you that you
overwhelm me.
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