The things we do!

Before he saw Ethel, Clive vowed he was aware of her. Indeed, had not
Lady Fareham told him Miss Newcome was coming? Ethel, on the contrary,
not expecting him, or not having the prescience of love, exhibited signs
of surprise when she beheld him, her eyebrows arching, her eyes darting
looks of pleasure. When grandmamma happened to be in another room, she
beckoned Clive to her, dismissing Crackthorpe and Fobsby, Farintosh and
Bustington, the amorous youth who around her bowed, and summoning Mr.
Clive to an audience with the air of a young princess.
And so she was a princess; and this the region of her special dominion.
The wittiest and handsomest, she deserved to reign in such a place, by
right of merit and by general election. Clive felt her superiority, and
his own shortcomings: he came up to her as to a superior person. Perhaps
she was not sorry to let him see how she ordered away grandees and
splendid Bustingtons, informing them, with a superb manner, that she
wished to speak to her cousin--that handsome young man with the light
moustache yonder.


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