The young ladies said, If I pleased they would take a turn about the
garden with me. I answered, I would very gladly attend them; and so we
three, and Lady Jones's sister-in-law, and Mr. Peters's niece, walked
together. They were very affable, kind, and obliging; and we soon
entered into a good deal of familiarity; and I found Miss Darnford a very
agreeable person. Her sister was a little more on the reserve; and I
afterwards heard, that, about a year before, she would fain have had my
master make his addresses to her: but though Sir Simon is reckoned rich,
she was not thought sufficient fortune for him. And now, to have him
look down so low as me, must be a sort of mortification to a poor young
lady!--And I pitied her.--Indeed I did!--I wish all young persons of my
sex could be as happy as I am like to be.
My master told me afterwards, that I left the other ladies, and Sir Simon
and Mr. Peters, full of my praises: so that they could hardly talk of any
thing else; one lanching out upon my complexion, another upon my eyes, my
hand, and, in short, for you'll think me sadly proud, upon my whole
person and behaviour; and they all magnified my readiness and
obligingness in my answers, and the like: And I was glad of it, as I
said, for my good master's sake, who seemed quite pleased and rejoiced.
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