Lascelles,
in one voice, demanded what was the matter?
"Has not Mary told you?" returned her sister, languidly opening her
eyes.
"No," answered Lascelles, rubbing his hands with delighted curiosity;
"come, let us have it."
Euphemia, pleased at this, and loving mystery with all her heart,
waved her hand solemnly, and in an awful tone replied, "Then it
passes not my lips."
"What, Phemy!" cried he, "you want us to believe you have seen a
ghost? But you forget, they don't walk at midday."
"Believe what you like," returned she, with an air of consequential
contempt; "I am satisfied to keep the secret."
Miss Dundas burst into a provoking laugh; and calling her the most
incorrigible little idiot in the world, encouraged Lascelles to fool
her to the top of his bent. Determining to gratify his spleen, if he
could not satisfy his curiosity, this witless coxcomb continued the
whole day in Harley Street, for the mere pleasure of tormenting
Euphemia. From the dinner hour until twelve at night, neither his
drowsy fancy nor wakeful malice could find one other weapon of
assault than the stale jokes of mysterious chambers, lovers
incognito, or the silly addition of two Cupid-struck sweeps popping
down the chimney to pay their addresses to the fair friends. Diana
talked of Jupiter with his thunder; and patting her sister under the
chin, added, "I cannot doubt that Miss Beaufort is the favored
Semel?; but, my dear, you over-acted your character? As confidant, a
few tears were enough when your lady fainted.
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