'
Rupert laughed rather provokingly. 'It is just as I say,' said Anne;
'now is it not, Mamma?'
'Oh yes, Anne,' said Rupert, 'perfectly right, you have caught
Helen's sententious wisdom exactly; I have no doubt that such were
the thoughts which passed through her mind, while she sat like
propriety personified, wondering how you could have so little sense
of decorum as to laugh at anything so impudent.'
'I know I ought not to have laughed,' said Anne; 'that was one of the
occasions when I did not exert sufficient self-control. But there
was really very little to laugh at, it was quite an old joke. Rupert
had disposed of Fido's heart long before, but he is so fond of his
own wit, that he never knows when we have had enough of a joke.'
'I could tell you of something much worse, Anne,' said Lady Merton,
'which quite proves the truth of what you say.'
Rupert coloured, made an exclamation about something in the road, and
seemed so much discomposed by this hint, that Anne forbore to ask any
questions.
'Rupert fitted himself to a T, that we must say for him,' said Sir
Edward.
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