Tales and Novels, vol 7 | Page 5

only those who do not know me should form an unfavourable opinion of my judgment--and, after all, ma'am, of the two classes of people, those who 'never said a foolish thing, and never did a wise one,' and those who never did a foolish thing, and never said a wise one, would not you rather that I should belong to the latter class?"
"Certainly, if I were reduced to the cruel alternative: but is there an unavoidable necessity for your belonging to either class?"
"I will consider of it, ma'am," said Rosamond: "in the meantime, Caroline, you will allow that M. de Tourville is very agreeable?"
"Agreeable!" repeated Caroline; "such a selfish being? Have you forgotten his attempting to jump into the boat, at the hazard of oversetting it, and of drowning my father and Godfrey, who went out to save him--and when my father warned him--and promised to return for him--selfish, cowardly creature!"
"Oh! poor man, he was so frightened, that he did not know what he was doing--he was not himself."
"You mean he was himself," said Caroline.
"You are very ungrateful, Caroline," cried Rosamond; "for I am sure M. de Tourville admires you extremely--yes, in spite of that provoking, incredulous smile, I say he does admire you exceedingly."
"And if he did," replied Caroline, "that would make no difference in my opinion of him."
"I doubt that," said Rosamond: "I know a person's admiring me would make a great difference in my opinion of his taste and judgment--and how much more if he had sense enough to admire you!"
Rosamond paused, and stood for some minutes silent in reverie.
"It will never do, my dear," said Mrs. Percy, looking up at her; "trust me it will never do; turn him which way you will in your imagination, you will never make a hero of him--nor yet a brother-in-law."
"My dear mother, how could you guess what I was thinking of?" said Rosamond, colouring a little, and laughing; "but I assure you--now let me explain to you, ma'am, in one word, what I think of M. de Tourville."
"Hush! my dear, he is here."
The gentlemen came into the room to tea.--M. de Tourville walked to the table at which Mrs. Percy was sitting; and, after various compliments on the beauty of the views from the windows, on the richness of the foliage in the park, and the superiority of English verdure, he next turned to look at the pictures in the saloon, distinguished a portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds, then passing to a table on which lay several books--"Is it permitted?" said he, taking up one of them--the Life of Lord Nelson.
M. de Tourville did not miss the opportunity of paying a just and what to English ears he knew must be a delightful, tribute of praise to our naval hero. Then opening several other books, he made a rash attempt to pronounce in English their titles, and with the happy facility of a Frenchman, he touched upon various subjects, dwelt upon none, but found means on all to say something to raise himself and his country in the opinion of the company, and at the same time to make all his auditors pleased with themselves. Presently, taking a seat between Rosamond and Caroline, he applied himself to draw out their talents for conversation. Nor did he labour in vain. They did not shut themselves up in stupid and provoking silence, nor did they make any ostentatious display of their knowledge or abilities.--M. de Tourville, as Rosamond had justly observed, seemed to be particularly struck with Miss Caroline Percy.--She was beautiful, and of an uncommon style of beauty. Ingenuous, unaffected, and with all the simplicity of youth, there was a certain dignity and graceful self-possession in her manner, which gave the idea of a superior character. She had, perhaps, less of what the French call esprit than M. de Tourville had been accustomed to meet with in young persons on the continent, but he was the more surprised by the strength and justness of thought which appeared in her plain replies to the finesse of some of his questions.
The morning of the second day that he was at Percy-hall, M. de Tourville was admiring the Miss Percys' drawings, especially some miniatures of Caroline's, and he produced his snuff-box, to show Mr. Percy a beautiful miniature on its lid.
It was exquisitely painted. M. de Tourville offered it to Caroline to copy, and Mrs. Percy urged her to make the attempt.
"It is the celebrated Euphrosyne," said he, "who from the stage was very near mounting a throne."
M. de Tourville left the miniature in the hands of the ladies to be admired, and, addressing himself to Mr. Percy, began to tell with much mystery the story of Euphrosyne. She was an actress of whom the prince, heir apparent at the German court where