Peregrine was nettled at this unmannerly mark of disapprobation,
and, in order to increase their chagrin, endeavoured to enter
into particular conversation with their fair rival. The young lady
herself, who neither wanted penetration nor the consciousness of her
own accomplishments, resented their behaviour, though she triumphed
at the cause of it, and gave her partner all the encouragement
he could desire. Her mother, who was present, thanked him for his
civility in taking such notice of a stranger, and he received a
compliment of the same nature from the young gentleman in boots,
who was her own brother.
If he was charmed with her appearance, he was quite ravished with
her discourse, which was sensible, spirited, and gay. Her frank
and sprightly demeanour excited his own confidence and good-humour;
and he described to her the characters of those females who had
honoured them with such a spiteful mark of distinction, in terms
so replete with humorous satire, that she seemed to listen with
particular complacency of attention, and distinguished every nymph
thus ridiculed with such a significant glance as overwhelmed her
with chagrin and mortification.
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