As soon then as I came to Mrs. Cole's, I related to her
all that passed, on which she very judiciously concluded
that if he did not come after me there was no harm done, and
that, if he did, as her presage suggested to her he would,
his character and his views should be well sifted, so as to
know whether the game was worth the springs; that in the mean
time nothing was easier than my part in it, since no more
rested on me than to follow her cue and promptership through-
out, to the last act.
The next morning, after an evening spent on his side, as
we afterwards learnt, in perquisitions into Mrs. Cole's char-
acter in the neighbourhood (than which nothing could be more
favourable to her design upon him), my gentleman came in his
chariot to the shop, where Mrs. Cole alone had an inkling of
his errand. Asking then for her, he easily made a beginning
of acquaintance by be-speaking some millinery ware: when, as
I sat without lifting up my eyes, and pursuing the hem of a
ruffle with the utmost composure and simplicity of industry,
Mrs. Cole took notice that the first impressions I made on
him ran no risk of being destroyed by those of Louisa and
Emily, who were then sitting at work by me. After vainly
endeavouring to catch my eyes in re-encounter with his (as I
held my head down, affecting a kind of consciousness of guilt
for having, by speaking to him, given him encouragement and
means of following me), and after giving Mrs.
Pages:
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215