Camilla | Page 7

he recommended
him to Mr. Tyrold, 'and you, I trust, will make him good, and see him
happy; and should hereafter a daughter of your own, from frequent
intercourse, become mistress of his affections, do not oppose such a
union from a disparity of fortune, which a daughter of yours, and of
your incomparable partner's, can hardly fail to counterbalance in merit.'
Mr. Tyrold, though too noble to avail himself of a declaration so
generous, by forming any plan to bring such a connection to bear, felt
conscientiously absolved from using any measures of frustration, and
determined, as the young people grew up, neither to promote nor
impede any rising regard.
The estate of Beech Park was not all that young Mandlebert inherited;
the friendship of its late owner for Mr. Tyrold, seemed instinctively
transfused into his breast, and he paid back the parental tenderness with
which he was watched and cherished, by a fondness and veneration
truly filial.
Whatever could indulge or delight the little set was brought forth upon
this joyous meeting; fruits, sweetmeats, and cakes; cards, trinkets, and

blind fidlers, were all at the unlimited command of the fairy mistress of
the ceremonies. But unbounded as were the transports of the jovial little
group, they could scarcely keep pace with the enjoyment of Sir Hugh;
he entered into all their plays, he forgot all his pains, he laughed
because they laughed, and suffered his darling little girl to govern and
direct him at her pleasure. She made him whiskers of cork, powdered
his brown bob, and covered a thread paper with black ribbon to hang to
it for a queue. She metamorphosed him into a female, accoutring him
with her fine new cap, while she enveloped her own small head in his
wig; and then, tying the maid's apron round his waist, put a rattle into
his hand, and Eugenia's doll upon his lap, which she told him was a
baby that he must nurse and amuse.
The excess of merriment thus excited spread through the whole house.
Lionel called in the servants to see this comical sight, and the servants
indulged their numerous guests with a peep at it from the windows. Sir
Hugh, meanwhile, resolved to object to nothing, performed every part
assigned him, joined in their hearty laughs at the grotesque figure they
made of him, and cordially encouraged all their proceedings, assuring
them he had not been so much diverted himself since his fall from his
horse, and advising them, with great zeal, to be merry while they could:
'For you will never, my dears,' said he, 'be younger, never while you
live; no more, for that matter, shall I, neither, for all I am so much older,
which, in that point, makes no difference.'
He grew weary, however, first; and stretching himself his full length,
with a prodigious yawn, 'Heigh ho!' he cried, 'Camilla, my dear, do take
away poor Doll, for fear I should let it slip.'
The little gigglers, almost in convulsions of laughter, entreated him to
nurse it some time longer; but he frankly answered, 'No, my dears, no; I
can play no more now, if I'd ever so fain, for I'm tired to death, which is
really a pity; so you must either go out with me my airing, for a rest to
your merry little sides, or stay and play by yourselves till I come back,
which I think will put you all into fevers; but, however, nobody shall
trouble your little souls with advice to-day; there are days enough in the
year for teazing, without this one.'

Camilla instantly decided for the airing, and without a dissentient voice:
so entirely had the extreme good humour of Sir Hugh won the hearts of
the little party, that they felt as if the whole of their entertainment
depended upon his presence. The carriage, therefore, was ordered for
the baronet and his four nieces, and Lionel and Edgar Mandlebert, at
the request of Camilla, were gratified with horses.
Camilla was desired to fix their route, and while she hesitated from the
variety in her choice, Lionel proposed to Edgar that they should take a
view of his house, park, and gardens, which were only three miles from
Cleves. Edgar referred the matter to Indiana, to whose already exquisite
beauty his juvenile admiration paid its most early obeisance. Indiana
approved; the little heroine of the day assented with pleasure and they
immediately set out upon the happy expedition.
The two boys the whole way came with offerings of wild honeysuckle
and sweetbriar, the grateful nosegays of all-diffusing nature, to the
coach windows, each carefully presenting the most fragrant to Indiana;
for Lionel, even more than sympathising with Edgar, declared his
sisters to be mere frights in comparison with his fair cousin. Their