When we went from them, he said, Which do you think the prettiest of
those misses? Really, sir, replied I, it is hard to say: Miss Booth is a
pretty brown girl, and has a fine eye; Miss Burdoff has a great deal of
sweetness in her countenance, but is not so regularly featured. Miss
Nugent is very fair: and Miss Goodwin has a fine black eye, and is,
besides, I think, the genteelest shaped child; but they are all pretty.
The maid led them into the garden, to shew them the beehives; and Miss
Goodwin made a particular fine courtesy to my master; and I said, I
believe miss knows you, sir; and, taking her by the hand, I said, Do you
know this gentleman, my pretty dear?--Yes, madam, said she; it is my own
dear uncle. I clasped her in my arms: O why did you not tell me, sir,
said I, that you had a niece among these little ladies? And I kissed
her, and away she tript after the others.
But pray, sir, said I, how can this be?--You have no sister nor brother,
but Lady Davers.--How can this be?
He smiled: and then I said, O my dearest sir, tell me now the truth, Does
not this pretty miss stand in a nearer relation to you, than as a niece?
--I know she does! I know she does! And I embraced him as he stood.
'Tis even so, my dear, replied he; and you remember my sister's good-
natured hint of Miss Sally Godfrey? I do well, sir, answered I.
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