'Who--I? _What_ ogling, Sister Becky?'
'You! tut! That foolish, ungrateful person, Lieutenant Puddock; what can
you propose to yourself, brother, in bringing Lieutenant Puddock here? I
hate him.'
'Why, what about Puddock--what has he done?' asked the general, with
round eyes still, and closing his book on his finger.
'What has he done! Why, he's at your daughter's feet,' cried Aunt Becky,
with scarlet cheeks, and flashing eyes; 'and she--artful gipsy, has
brought him there by positively making love to him.'
'Sweet upon Toodie (the general's old pet name for Gertrude); why, half
the young fellows are--you know--pooh, pooh,' and the general stood up
with his back to the fire--looking uneasy; for, like many other men, he
thought a woman's eyes saw further in such a case than his.
'Do you wish the young hussy--do you--to marry Lieutenant Puddock? I
should not wonder! Why, of course, her fortune you and she may give away
to whom you like; but remember, she's young, and has been much admired,
brother; and may make a great match; and in our day, young ladies were
under direction, and did not marry without apprising their parents or
natural guardians.
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