'Well, cousin!' said Mr Jonas--'Because we ARE cousins, you know, a few
times removed--so you're going to London?'
Miss Mercy replied in the affirmative, pinching her sister's arm at the
same time, and giggling excessively.
'Lots of beaux in London, cousin!' said Mr Jonas, slightly advancing his
elbow.
'Indeed, sir!' cried the young lady. 'They won't hurt us, sir, I dare
say.' And having given him this answer with great demureness she was so
overcome by her own humour, that she was fain to stifle her merriment in
her sister's shawl.
'Merry,' cried that more prudent damsel, 'really I am ashamed of you.
How can you go on so? You wild thing!' At which Miss Merry only laughed
the more, of course.
'I saw a wildness in her eye, t'other day,' said Mr Jonas, addressing
Charity. 'But you're the one to sit solemn! I say--You were regularly
prim, cousin!'
'Oh! The old-fashioned fright!' cried Merry, in a whisper. 'Cherry my
dear, upon my word you must sit next him. I shall die outright if he
talks to me any more; I shall, positively!' To prevent which fatal
consequence, the buoyant creature skipped out of her seat as she spoke,
and squeezed her sister into the place from which she had risen.
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