'I suppose that's the sort of tit-for-tat adopted in your
profession, Kimble, if you've a grudge against a patient,' said the
rector.
'Never do have a grudge against our patients,' said Mr Kimble,
'except when they leave us: and then, you see, we haven't the chance
of prescribing for 'em. Ha, Miss Nancy,' he continued, suddenly
skipping to Nancy's side, 'you won't forget your promise? You're to
save a dance for me, you know.'
'Come, come, Kimble, don't you be too for'ard,' said the Squire.
'Give the young uns fair-play. There's my son Godfrey'll be wanting to
have a round with you if you run off with Miss Nancy. He's bespoke her
for the first dance, I'll be bound. Eh, sir! what do you say?' he
continued, throwing himself backward, and looking at Godfrey. 'Haven't
you asked Miss Nancy to open the dance with you?'
Godfrey, sorely uncomfortable under this significant insistence
about Nancy, and afraid to think where it would end by the time his
father had set his usual hospitable example of drinking before and
after supper, saw no course open but to turn to Nancy and say, with as
little awkwardness as possible:
'No; I've not asked her yet, but I hope she'll consent- if somebody
else hasn't been before me.'
'No, I've not engaged myself,' said Nancy, quietly, though
blushingly. (If Mr Godfrey founded any hopes on her consenting to
dance with him, he would soon be undeceived; but there was no need for
her to be uncivil.
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