But again provoking a severity from me which she could not bear, and
calling me names! in once more come Dolly, with another message, that
her company was desired.
Not mine, I doubt, Miss Dolly, said I.
The sweet-tempered girl burst out into tears, and shook her head.
Go in before me, child, said Bella, [vexed to see her concern for me,]
with thy sharp face like a new moon: What dost thou cry for? is it to
make thy keen face look still keener?
I believe Bella was blamed, too, when she went in; for I heard her say,
the creature was so provoking, there was no keeping a resolution.
Mr. Solmes, after a little while, came in again by himself, to take
leave of me: full of scrapes and compliments; but too well tutored and
encouraged, to give me hope of his declining his suit. He begged me
not to impute to him any of the severe things to which he had been a
sorrowful witness. He besought my compassion, as he called it.
He said, the result was, that he still had hopes given him; and,
although discouraged by me, he was resolved to persevere, while I
remained single.--And such long and such painful services he talked of,
as never before were heard of.