"Then I please to be troubled with her immediately. I should like to carry her away with me this afternoon, if it were possible; but I suppose that can't be--there will be a trunk to be packed, and so on. When will you come to me, Miss Lovel? Do you know, I am strongly tempted to call you Clarissa?"
"I should like it so much better," the girl answered, blushing.
"What! may I? Then I'm sure I will. It's such a pretty name, reminding one of that old novel of Richardson's, which everybody quotes and no one ever seems to have read. When will you come, Clarissa?"
"Give her a week," said her father; "she'll want a new white muslin gown, I daresay; young women always do when they are going visiting."
"Now, pray don't let her trouble herself about anything of that kind; my maid shall see to all that sort of thing. We will make her look her best, depend upon it. I mean this visit to be a great event in her life, Mr. Lovel, if possible."
"Don't let there be any fuss or trouble about her. Every one knows that I am poor, and that she will be penniless when I am gone. Let her wear her white muslin gown, and give her a corner to sit in. People may take her for one of your children's governesses, if they choose; but if she is to see society, I am glad for her to see the best."
"People shall not take her for one of my governesses; they shall take her for nothing less than Miss Lovel of Arden. Yes, of Arden, my dear sir; don't frown, I entreat you. The glory of an old house like that clings to those who bear the old name, even though lands and house are gone--Miss Lovel, of Arden. By the way, how do you get on with your neighbour, Mr. Granger?"
"I do not get on with him at all. He used to call upon me now and then, but I suppose he fancied, or saw somehow or other--though I am sure I was laboriously civil to him--that I did not care much for his visits; at any rate, he dropped them. But he is still rather obtrusively polite in sending me game and hot-house fruit and flowers at odd times, in return for which favours I can send him nothing but a note of thanks--'Mr. Lovel presents his compliments to Mr. Granger, and begs to acknowledge, with best thanks, &c.'--the usual formula."
"I am so sorry you have not permitted him to know you," replied Lady Laura. "We saw a good deal of him last year--such a charming man! what one may really call a typical man--the sort of person the French describe as solid---_Carré par la base_--a perfect block of granite; and then, so _enormously_ rich!"