She was very young when she made
the engagement - if it may be called one, I am not even sure of
that - and has repented of it, perhaps. Perhaps - it seems a
foppish thing to say, but upon my soul I don't mean it in that
light - she may have fallen in love with me, as I have fallen in
love with her.'
'He, he! Mr. Alfred, her old playfellow too, you remember, Mr.
Craggs,' said Snitchey, with a disconcerted laugh; 'knew her almost
from a baby!'
'Which makes it the more probable that she may be tired of his
idea,' calmly pursued the client, 'and not indisposed to exchange
it for the newer one of another lover, who presents himself (or is
presented by his horse) under romantic circumstances; has the not
unfavourable reputation - with a country girl - of having lived
thoughtlessly and gaily, without doing much harm to anybody; and
who, for his youth and figure, and so forth - this may seem foppish
again, but upon my soul I don't mean it in that light - might
perhaps pass muster in a crowd with Mr. Alfred himself.'
There was no gainsaying the last clause, certainly; and Mr.
Snitchey, glancing at him, thought so. There was something
naturally graceful and pleasant in the very carelessness of his
air. It seemed to suggest, of his comely face and well-knit
figure, that they might be greatly better if he chose: and that,
once roused and made earnest (but he never had been earnest yet),
he could be full of fire and purpose.
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