_In which our heroine, being mistaken herself, gives occasion for a
great many other mistakes._
As soon as the ladies entered the room, Mr. Selvin, with more gaiety
than usual, advanced towards Arabella, who put on so cold and severe
a countenance at his approach, that the poor man, extremely confused,
drew back, and remained in great perplexity, fearing he had offended
her.
Mr. Tinsel, seeing Mr. Selvin's reception, and awed by the becoming
majesty in her person, notwithstanding all his assurance, accosted her
with less confidence than was his custom; but Arabella softening her
looks with the most engaging smiles, made an apology for detaining
them so long from the parade, gave her hand to the beau, as being not
a suspected person, and permitted him to lead her out; Mr. Glanville,
to whom she always allowed the preference on those occasions, being a
little indisposed, and not able to attend her.
Mr. Tinsel, whose vanity was greatly flattered by the preference
Arabella gave him to his companion, proceeded, according to his usual
custom, to examine her looks and behaviour with more care; conceiving
such a preference must proceed, from a latent motive which was not
unfavourable for him. His discernment on these occasions being very
surprising, he soon discovered in the bright eyes of Arabella a
secret approbation of his person, which he endeavoured to increase by
displaying it with all the address he was master of, and did not fail
to talk her into an opinion of his wit, by ridiculing every body that
passed them, and directing several studied compliments to herself.
Miss Glanville, who was not so agreeably entertained by the grave Mr.
Selvin, saw these advances to a gallantry with her cousin with great
disturbance. She was resolved to interrupt it, if possible; and being
convinced Mr. Selvin preferred Arabella's conversation to hers, she
plotted how to pair them together, and have the beau to herself.
As they walked a few paces behind her cousin and Mr. Tinsel, she was in
no danger of being overheard; and taking occasion to put Mr. Selvin in
mind of Arabella's behaviour to him, when he accosted her, she asked
him if he was conscious of having done any thing to offend her?
I protest, madam, replied Mr. Selvin, I know not of any thing I have
done to displease her. I never failed, to my knowledge, in my respects
towards her ladyship, for whom indeed I have a most profound veneration.
I know so much of her temper, resumed Miss Glanville, as to be certain,
if she has taken it into her head to be angry with you, she will be ten
times more so at your indifference; and if you hope for her favour, you
must ask her pardon with the most earnest submission imaginable.
If I knew I had offended her, replied Mr. Selvin, I would very
willingly ask her pardon; but really, since I have not been guilty of
any fault towards her ladyship, I don't know how to acknowledge it.
Well, said Miss Glanville coldly, I only took the liberty to give you
some friendly advice, which you may follow, or not, as you please.
I know my cousin is angry at something, and I wish you were friends
again, that's all.
I am mightily obliged to you, madam, said Mr. Selvin; and since you
assure me her ladyship is angry, I'll ask her pardon, though, really,
as I said before, I don't know for what.
Well, interrupted Miss Glanville, we'll join them at the end of the
parade; and to give you an opportunity speaking to my cousin, I'll
engage Mr. Tinsel myself.
Mr. Selvin, who thought himself greatly obliged to Miss Glanville for
her good intentions, though in reality she had a view of exposing her
cousin, as well as an inclination to engage Mr. Tinsel, took courage
as they turned, to get on the other side of Arabella, whom he had not
dared before to approach; while Miss Glanville, addressing a whisper
of no great importance to her cousin, parted her from the beau, and
slackening her pace a little, fell into a particular discourse with
him, which Arabella being too polite to interrupt, remained in a very
perplexing situation, dreading every moment that Mr. Selvin would
explain himself; alarmed at his silence, yet resolved to interrupt him
if he began to speak, and afraid of beginning a conversation first lest
he should construe it to his advantage.
Mr. Selvin being naturally timid in the company of ladies, the
circumstance of disgrace which he was in with Arabella, her silence
and reserve, so added to his accustomed diffidence, that though he
endeavoured several times to speak, he was not able to bring out
anything but a preluding hem; which he observed, to his extreme
confusion, seemed always to increase Arabella's constraint.
Indeed, that lady, upon any suspicion that he was going to break his
mysterious silence, always contracted her brow into a frown, cast down
her eyes with an air of perplexity, endeavoured to hide her blushes
with her fan; and to show her inattention, directed her looks to the
contrary side.
The lady and gentleman being in equal confusion, no advances were made
on either side towards a conversation, and they had reached almost the
end of the parade in an uninterrupted silence; when Mr. Selvin, fearing
he should never again have so good an opportunity of making his peace,
collected all his resolution, and with an accent trembling under the
importance of the speech he was going to make, began--
Madam, since I have had the honour of walking with your ladyship, I
have observed so many signs of constraint in your manner, that I hardly
dare entreat you to grant me a moment's hearing, while I----
Sir, interrupted Arabella, before you go any further, I must inform
you, that what you are going to say will mortally offend me. Take heed
then how you commit any indiscretion which will force me to treat you
very rigorously.
If your ladyship will not allow me to speak in my own justification,
said Mr. Selvin, yet I hope you will not refuse to tell me my offence:
since I----
You are very confident, indeed, interrupted Arabella again, to suppose
I will repeat what would be infinitely grievous for me to hear. Against
my will, pursued she, I must give you the satisfaction to know, that
I am not ignorant of your crime: but I also assure you that I am
highly incensed; and that not only with the thoughts you have dared to
entertain of me, but likewise with your presumption in going about to
disclose them.
Mr. Selvin, whom the seeming contradictions in this speech astonished,
yet imagined in general it hinted at the dispute between him and Mr.
Tinsel; and supposing the story had been told to his disadvantage,
which was the cause of her anger, replied in great emotion at the
injustice done him--
Since somebody has been so officious to acquaint your ladyship with an
affair which ought to have been kept from your knowledge; it is a pity
they did not inform you, that Mr. Tinsel was the person that had the
least respect for your ladyship, and is more worthy of your resentment.
If Mr. Tinsel, replied Arabella, is guilty of an offence like yours,
yet since he has concealed it better, he is less culpable than you; and
you have done that for him, which haply he would never have had courage
enough to do for himself as long as he lived.
Poor Selvin, quite confounded at these intricate words, would have
begged her to explain herself, had she not silenced him with a dreadful
frown; and making a stop till Miss Glanville and Mr. Tinsel came up to
them, she told her cousin with a peevish accent, that she had performed
her promise very ill; and whispered her, that she was to blame for all
the mortifications she had suffered.
Mr. Tinsel, supposing the alteration in Arabella's humour proceeded
from being so long deprived of his company; endeavoured to make her
amends by a profusion of compliments; which she received with such an
air of displeasure, that the beau, vexed at the ill success of his
gallantry, told her, he was afraid Mr. Selvin's gravity had infected
her ladyship.
Say rather, replied Arabella, that his indiscretion has offended me.
Mr. Tinsel, charmed with this beginning confidence, which confirmed his
hopes of having made some impression on her heart; conjured her very
earnestly to tell him how Mr. Selvin had offended her.
It is sufficient, resumed she, that I tell you he has offended me,
without declaring the nature of his crime, since doubtless it has not
escaped your observation, which, if I may believe him, is not wholly
disinterested. To confess yet more, it is true that he hath told me
something concerning you, which--
Let me perish, madam, interrupted the beau, if one syllable he has said
be true.
How! said Arabella, a little disconcerted: will you always persist in a
denial then?
Deny it, madam! returned Mr. Tinsel, I'll deny what he has said with
my last breath. It is all a scandalous forgery: no man living is
less likely to think of your ladyship in that manner. If you knew my
thoughts, madam, you would be convinced nothing is more impossible,
and----
Sir, interrupted Arabella, extremely mortified, methinks you are
very eager in your justification. I promise you, I do not think you
guilty of the offence he charged you with; if I did, you would haply
experience my resentment in such a manner as would make you repent of
your presumption.
Arabella, in finishing these words, interrupted Miss Glanville's
discourse with Mr. Selvin, to tell her she desired to return home;
to which that young lady, who had not been at all pleased with the
morning's walk, consented.