worthyofbeingknowninCamdenPlace,”andassoonassherecoveredtheyweretobeacquainted.SirWalterthoughtmuchofMrsWallisshewassaidtobeanexcessivelyprettywoman,beautiful.“Helongedtoseeher.Hehopedshemightmakesomeamendsforthemanyveryplainfaceshewascontinuallypassinginthestreets.TheworstofBathwasthenumberofitsplainwomen.Hedidnotmeantosaythattherewerenoprettywomen,butthenumberoftheplainwasoutofallproportion.Hehadfrequentlyobserved,ashewalked,thatonehandsomefacewouldbefollowedbythirty,orfive-and-thirtyfrightsandonce,ashehadstoodinashoponBondStreet,hehadcountedeighty-sevenwomengoby,oneafteranother,withouttherebeingatolerablefaceamongthem.Ithadbeenafrostymorning,tobesure,asharpfrost,whichhardlyonewomaninathousandcouldstandthetestof.Butstill,therecertainlywereadreadfulmultitudeofuglywomeninBathandasforthemen!theywereinfinitelyworse.Suchscarecrowsasthestreetswerefullof!Itwasevidenthowlittlethewomenwereusedtothesightofanythingtolerable,bytheeffectwhichamanofdecentappearanceproduced.Hehadneverwalkedanywherearm-in-armwithColonelWallis(whowasafinemilitaryfigure,thoughsandy-haired)withoutobservingthateverywoman’seyewasuponhimeverywoman’seyewassuretobeuponColonelWallis.”ModestSirWalter!Hewasnotallowedtoescape,however.HisdaughterandMrsClayunitedinhintingthatColonelWallis’scompanionmighthaveasgoodafigureasColonelWallis,andcertainlywasnotsandy-haired.
“HowisMarylooking?”saidSirWalter,intheheightofhisgoodhumour.“ThelasttimeIsawhershehadarednose,butIhopethatmaynothappeneveryday.”
“Oh!no,thatmusthavebeenquiteaccidental.IngeneralshehasbeeninverygoodhealthandverygoodlookssinceMichaelmas.”
“IfIthoughtitwouldnottempthertogooutinsharpwinds,andgrowcoarse,Iwouldsendheranewhatandpelisse.”
Annewasconsideringwhethersheshouldventuretosuggestthatagown,oracap,wouldnotbeliabletoanysuchmisuse,whenaknockatthedoorsuspendedeverything.“Aknockatthedoor!andso