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A SHABBY GENTEEL STORY 57
Caroline more and more beautiful every instant, and was himself by
this time almost as much in love with her as Fitch himself.
Mr. Brandon, then, saw Fitch depart in Swigby's carriage with
no ordinary feelings of pleasure. Miss Caroline was not with them.
" Now is my time !" thought Brandon ; and, ringing the bell, he
inquired with some anxiety, from Becky, where Miss Caroline was ?
It must be confessed that mistress and maid were at their usual
occupation, working and reading novels in the back parlour. Poor
Carry ! what other pleasure had she ?
She had not gone through many pages, or Becky advanced
many stitches in the darning of that tablecloth which the good
housewife, Mrs. Gann, had confided to her charge, when an humble
knock was heard at the door of the sitting-room, that caused the
blushing Caroline to tremble and drop her book, as Miss Lydia
Languish does in the play.
Mr. George Brandon entered with a very demure air. He held
in his hand a black satin neck-scarf, of which a part had come to
be broken. He could not wear it in its present condition, that was
evident ; but Miss Caroline was blushing and trembling a great deal
too much to suspect that this wicked Brandon had himself torn his
own scarf with his own hands one moment before he entered the
room. I don't know whether Becky had any suspicions of this fact,
or whether it was only the ordinary roguish look which she had
when anything pleased her, that now lighted up her eyes and caused
her mouth to expand smilingly, and her fat red cheeks to gather up
into wrinkles.
" I have had a sad misfortune," said he, " and should be very
much obliged indeed to Miss Caroline to repair it. (Caroline was
said with a kind of tender hesitation that caused the young woman,
so named, to blush more than ever.) " It is the only stock I have
in the world, and I can't go barenecked into the streets ; can I,
Mrs. Becky ?"
" No, sure," said Becky.
" Not unless I was a celebrated painter, like Mr. Fitch," added
Mr. Brandon, with a smile, which was reflected speedily upon the
face of the lady whom he wished to interest. " Those great geniuses,"
he added, " may do anything."
"For," says Becky, "hee's got enough beard on hees faze to
keep hees neck warm !" At which remark, though Miss Caroline
very properly said, " For shame, Becky !" Mr. Brandon was so
convulsed with laughter, that he fairly fell down upon the sofa on
which Miss Caroline was seated. How she started and trembled,
as he flung his arm upon the back of the couch ! Mr. Brandon did
not attempt to apologise for what was an act of considerable im-