When these things once expire, I do believe they are as hard
to revive as our dead lap-dogs, guinea-pigs, and parrots. It was my perfect
coolness which enabled me to chat, I flatter myself, so agreeably with the
refined Captain, who plainly thought me his captive, and was probably
now and then thinking what was to be done to utilise that little bit of
Bartram, or to beautify some other, when he should see fit to become its
master, as we rambled over these wild but beautiful grounds.
It was just about then that Milly nudged me rather vehemently, and
whispered 'Look there!'
I followed with mine the direction of her eyes, and saw my odious cousin,
Dudley, in a flagrant pair of cross-barred peg-tops, and what Milly before
her reformation used to call other 'slops' of corresponding atrocity,
approaching our refined little party with great strides. I really think
that Milly was very nearly ashamed of him. I certainly was. I had no
apprehension, however, of the scene which was imminent.
The charming Captain mistook him probably for some rustic servant of the
place, for he continued his agreeable remarks up to the very moment when
Dudley, whose face was pale with anger, and whose rapid advance had not
served to cool him, without recollecting to salute either Milly or me,
accosted our elegant companion as follows:--
'By your leave, master, baint you summat in the wrong box here, don't you
think?'
He had planted himself directly in his front, and looked unmistakably
menacing.
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