Page:Crawford - Love in idleness.djvu/86

 "My dear," answered Cordelia, gravely, "do you know what a 'fit' means? Really, sometimes, you do exaggerate—"

"A fit means convulsions—what babies have, you know. They used to say it was brought on by looking at the moon."

Lawrence felt a strong inclination to laugh at this moment, but he controlled it, and only smiled. Then, to his considerable embarrassment, they all appealed to him, probably in the hope of more praise for Brinsley.

"Do tell us how he strikes you, Mr. Lawrence," said Cordelia.

"Yes, do!" echoed Elizabeth.

"Oh, please do!" cried Augusta, at the same moment.

"I should be curious to know what you think of him," said Fanny Trehearne.

"Well, really," stammered the unfortunate young man, "I've hardly seen him—I've not had time to form an opinion—you must know him, and you all like him, and—it seems to me—-that settles it. Doesn't it?"

While Lawrence was speaking, Miss Cordelia