第119章

AmyHADbeenthinkingofthissomeoneelsetoo；foritwasMrSparkler。Shedidnotsayso，however，asshegavehimherhand。

MrSparklercameandsatdownontheothersideofher，andshefeltthefraternalrailingcomebehindher，andapparentlystretchontoincludeFanny。

’Well，mylittlesister，’saidFannywithasigh，’Isupposeyouknowwhatthismeans？’

’She’sasbeautifulasshe’sdoatedon，’stammeredMrSparkler——

’andthere’snononsenseabouther——it’sarranged——’

’Youneedn’texplain，Edmund，’saidFanny。

’No，mylove，’saidMrSparkler。

’Inshort，pet，’proceededFanny，’onthewhole，weareengaged。

Wemusttellpapaaboutiteitherto-nightorto-morrow，accordingtotheopportunities。Thenit’sdone，andverylittlemoreneedbesaid。’

’MydearFanny，’saidMrSparkler，withdeference，’IshouldliketosayawordtoAmy。’

’Well，well!Sayitforgoodness’sake，’returnedtheyounglady。

’Iamconvinced，mydearAmy，’saidMrSparkler，’thatifevertherewasagirl，nexttoyourhighlyendowedandbeautifulsister，whohadnononsenseabouther——’

’Weknowallaboutthat，Edmund，’interposedMissFanny。’Nevermindthat。Praygoontosomethingelsebesidesourhavingnononsenseaboutus。’

’Yes，mylove，’saidMrSparkler。’AndIassureyou，Amy，thatnothingcanbeagreaterhappinesstomyself，myself——nexttothehappinessofbeingsohighlyhonouredwiththechoiceofagloriousgirlwhohasn’tanatomof——’

’Pray，Edmund，pray!’interruptedFanny，withaslightpatofherprettyfootuponthefloor。

’Mylove，you’requiteright，’saidMrSparkler，’andIknowIhaveahabitofit。WhatIwishedtodeclarewas，thatnothingcanbeagreaterhappinesstomyself，myself-nexttothehappinessofbeingunitedtopre-eminentlythemostgloriousofgirls——thantohavethehappinessofcultivatingtheaffectionateacquaintanceofAmy。Imaynotmyself，’saidMrSparklermanfully，’beuptothemarkonsomeothersubjectsatashortnotice，andIamawarethatifyouweretopollSocietythegeneralopinionwouldbethatIamnot；butonthesubjectofAmyIamuptothemark!’

MrSparklerkissedher，inwitnessthereof。

’Aknifeandforkandanapartment，’proceededMrSparkler，growing，incomparisonwithhisoratoricalantecedents，quitediffuse，’willeverbeatAmy’sdisposal。MyGovernor，Iamsure，willalwaysbeproudtoentertainonewhomIsomuchesteem。Andregardingmymother，’saidMrSparkler，’whoisaremarkablyfinewoman，with——’

’Edmund，Edmund!’criedMissFanny，asbefore。

’Withsubmission，mysoul，’pleadedMrSparkler。’IknowIhaveahabitofit，andIthankyouverymuch，myadorablegirl，fortakingthetroubletocorrectit；butmymotherisadmittedonallsidestobearemarkablyfinewoman，andshereallyhasn’tany。’

’Thatmaybe，ormaynotbe，’returnedFanny，’butpraydon’tmentionitanymore。’

’Iwillnot，mylove，’saidMrSparkler。

’Then，infact，youhavenothingmoretosay，Edmund；haveyou？’

inquiredFanny。

’Sofarfromit，myadorablegirl，’answeredMrSparkler，’I

apologiseforhavingsaidsomuch。’

MrSparklerperceived，byakindofinspiration，thatthequestionimpliedhadhenotbettergo？Hethereforewithdrewthefraternalrailing，andneatlysaidthathethoughthewould，withsubmission，takehisleave。HedidnotgowithoutbeingcongratulatedbyAmy，aswellasshecoulddischargethatofficeintheflutteranddistressofherspirits。

Whenhewasgone，shesaid，’OFanny，Fanny!’andturnedtohersisterinthebrightwindow，andfelluponherbosomandcriedthere。Fannylaughedatfirst；butsoonlaidherfaceagainsthersister’sandcriedtoo——alittle。Itwasthe