"
"Now, out upon you, Bucklaw," said Lady Ashton, again interposing;
"how can you think Lucy can have any objection to that blunt, honest,
good-natured creature, Captain Craigengelt?"
"Why, madam," replied Bucklaw, "as to Craigie's sincerity, honesty, and
good-nature, they are, I believe, pretty much upon a par; but that's
neither here nor there--the fellow knows my ways, and has got useful to
me, and I cannot well do without him, as I said before. But all this is
nothing to the purpose; for since I have mustered up courage to make a
plain proposal, I would fain hear Miss Ashton, from her own lips, give
me a plain answer."
"My dear Bucklaw," said Lady Ashton, "let me spare Lucy's bashfulness.
I tell you, in her presence, that she has already consented to be guided
by her father and me in this matter. Lucy, my love," she added, with
that singular combination of suavity of tone and pointed energy which we
have already noticed--"Lucy, my dearest love! speak for yourself, is it
not as I say?"
Her victim answered in a tremulous and hollow voice: "I HAVE promised to
obey you--but upon one condition.
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