CHAPTER XVII.
THE TEA 'And what do you think of _him_ ?' asked mamma.
'Oh, I think he's very well,' replied Emily gaily.
'I should say he was very _toor_-lerable,' drawled Miss Jawleyford, who reckoned herself rather a judge, and indeed had had some experience of gentlemen.
'_Tolerable_, my dear!' rejoined Mrs.Jawleyford, 'I should say he's very well--rather _distingue_, indeed.' 'I shouldn't say _that_,' replied Miss Jawleyford; 'his height and figure are certainly in his favour, but he isn't quite my idea of a gentleman.

He is evidently on good terms with himself; but I should say, if it wasn't for his forwardness, he'd be awkward and uneasy.' 'He's a fox-hunter, you know,' observed Emily.
'Well, but I don't know that that should make him different to other people,' rejoined her sister.

'Captain Curzon, and Mr.Lancaster, and Mr.
Preston, were all fox-hunters; but they didn't stare, and blurt, and kick their legs about, as this man does.' 'Oh, you are so fastidious!' rejoined her mamma; 'you must take men as you find them.' 'I wonder where he lives ?' observed Emily, who was quite ready to take our friend as he was.
'I wonder where he _does_ live ?' chimed in Mrs.Jawleyford, for the suddenness of the descent had given them no time for inquiry.

'Somebody said Manchester,' observed Miss Jawleyford drily.
'So much the better,' observed Mrs.Jawleyford, 'for then he is sure to have plenty of money.' 'Law, ma! but you don't s'pose pa would ever allow such a thing,' retorted Miss, recollecting her papa's frequent exhortations to them to look high.
'If he's a landowner,' observed Mrs.Jawleyford 'we'll soon find him out in _Burke_.

Emily, my dear,' added she, 'just go into your pa's room, and bring me the _Commoners_--you'll find it on the large table between the _Peerage_ and the _Wellington Despatches_.' Emily tripped away to do as she was bid.