"I am happy, Sir Charles," he rejoined, after the encomium, "to have met
with your approbation. Ensamples of heroism may surely as justly be drawn
from modern instances as from Alexander and Caesar, and I am not now to be
informed that such ensamples are of more interest to the infant mind when
the illustrious model is seated among them in all the majesty of success
and honour."
The Admiral stared, but Mrs Darcy, joining us, staved off the disclosure.
"I told you so!" she whispered in my ear, her eyes dancing with humour.
I pressed her hand for silence and it blew over, the Admiral later
demanding jealously: "What was it all about, my Lady?" when I replied with
a show of countenance: "A droll allusion of Mrs Darcy's, my dear." So it
ended.
So also must this letter, my dear Sophia; but I do not apologise for its
length, knowing your interest in all that touches us. Your truly aff'e
sister,