She hastened to compliment her on her kindness to Emilia, and so sheathed her weapon for the time, having just enjoyed a casual inspection of Mrs.Chump entering the room, and heard the brogue an instant.
"Irish!" she whispered, smiling, with a sort of astonished discernment of the nationality, and swept through the doorway: thus conveying forcibly to Arabella her knowledge of what the ladies of Brookfield were enduring: a fine Parthian shot.
That Cornelia should hold a notable county man, a baronet and owner of great acres, in a state between acceptance and rejection, was considered high policy by the ladies, whom the idea of it elevated; and they encouraged her to pursue this course, without having a suspicion, shrewd as they were, that it was followed for any other object than the honour of the family.

But Mr.Pole was in the utmost perplexity, and spoke of baronets as things almost holy, to be kneeled to, prayed for.

He was profane.

"I thought, papa," said Cornelia, "that women conferred the favour when they gave their hands!" It was a new light to the plain merchant.

"How should you say if a Prince came and asked for you ?" "Still that he asked a favour at my hands." "Oh!" went Mr.Pole, in the voice of a man whose reason is outraged.
The placidity of Cornelia's reply was not without its effect on him, nevertheless.