Page:Evelina (1778 Volume 1).pdf/70

 might have had, that I could not but be surprised at your singular resentment."

"It was far from my intention, answered he, to offend your Lordship; but really, for a person who is nobody, to give herself such airs,—I own I could not command my passions. For, my Lord, though I have made diligent enquiry—I cannot learn who she is."

"By what I can make out," cried my defender, "she must be a country parson's daughter."

"He! he! he! very good, 'pon honour!" cried the fop,—"well, so I could have sworn by her manners."

And then, delighted at his own wit, he laughed, and went away, as I suppose, to repeat it.

"But what the deuce is all this? demanded the other.

"Why a very foolish affair," answered Lord Orville; "your Helen first refused this coxcomb, and then—danced with me. This is all I can gather of it."

"O Orville," returned he, "you are a happy man!—But, ill-bred?—I can never believe it? And she looks too sensible to be ignorant."

"Whether ignorant, or mischievous, I will not pretend to determine, but certain it is, she attended to all I could say to her,