The Courtship of Mrs Elton:
Part II

Mrs. Jeffereys, the two Milmans, and Miss Hawkins went walking; and their search was rewarded almost before it began, for standing in plain sight, before the most important draper's shop in the Town, were two gentlemen whom Mrs. Jeffereys' eyes, sharpened as they were with a true matchmaker's penetration, descried at once as Mr. Bird and the very selfsame clergyman she had hoped to discover. The two gentlemen bowed, the ladies courtesied, and introductions were swiftly made.

Mr. Bird, a friend of Mrs. Jeffereys' husband, was a tall young man with a very youthful face, and an expression of contented silliness; but his companion, equally tall, was both handsome and genial, and of very prepossessing manners. What the gentlemen were, must wait to be discovered, but Augusta's business at the moment was to make herself pleasing to both of them. The conversation, as it must be in the first moments, was mere formalities; but Mr. Bird rapidly unbent, and after some polite inquiries after the health of Mr. Jeffereys, he embarked upon an explanation of how he had met Mr. Elton.

"I have been at the draper's to order a new cravat; a very fine cravat, something quite new, for the Rooms: blue, I thought, a robin's egg blue, would be quite the *ton*; and what was my surprise, Mrs. Jeffereys, but to meet an old friend, quite an old friend, in Philip Elton?"

"It is delightful when old friends meet again," said Miss Susan, with something between a laugh and a gurgle.

"You had known one another previously?" asked Augusta pleasantly, her eyes fixed upon Mr. Elton's face.

"Exactly so, Miss Hawkins. In fact, we were at school together, and poor Bird was my fag. I fear I was not very merciful to him."

"Come now, Mr. Elton, you cannot dissemble with *me*. I am perfectly sure you would show mercy to anyone in an inferior position," said Augusta.

"Why, I should hope so, now that I am in orders; but as a boy you know, boys are not very noted for that sort of thing."

"La! how shocking, Mr. Elton. Do tell us, Mr. Bird, what sort of a boy your friend was, I am longing to know," Miss Susan begged.

"Oh, Philip was always good-natured - certainly," said Mr. Bird. "The only thing wrong with him was that he did not care enough for his costume: but if he was a bit of a sloven, he is very much improved now."

The ladies laughed deprecatingly. "That is not much of a compliment, Bird. But I should expect no better of you - you who were always a fop, and to this day care a good deal more for your fine linen and your cravats than for riding or hunting."

"That is an accusation, indeed," said Augusta. "Do you hunt, Mr. Elton?"

He brightened. "To be sure I do, but I seldom get the opportunity, in these days. My parish duties you know..."

The conversation continued, no one saying any thing more than ordinarily witty or clever; but in the minds of Mrs. Jeffereys and the Milman sisters, the impression was forming that Mr. Elton was very much attracted by Miss Hawkins, and that their intercourse might very nearly deserve to be given the name of flirting.

Mr. Bird was of this opinion too, and was not best pleased by it, as he thought Miss Hawkins handsome, and she had been represented to him as an heiress of useful, if not large, fortune. He was also so vain, as not to like any young lady being attracted to any gentleman but himself, and he was not inclined to allow all the attentions to Miss Hawkins to be on Mr. Elton's side. Accordingly, as the ladies began to think of suggesting that they take leave - since they really could not spent the whole afternoon standing talking in the street - Mr. Bird said, as if newly struck by the idea:

"I say, Mrs. Jeffereys, have you been bid to the dinner at the Greens'? I know you are acquainted with them, and seldom miss."

"Why, yes, Mr. Bird, Mr. Jeffereys and I will be there, and my mother - all of our party, in fact."

"That is exactly what I hoped to hear. Green is such an hospitable host - every thing in the best style. No pitiful doings. I was sure you would be there."

"Shall I have the pleasure of seeing you at Mr. Green's dinner, Miss Hawkins?" Mr. Elton asked, with a particularity that was lost by no one present except possibly Miss Susan, who was ogling a woman in a really handsome hat who happened to be passing.

"Why yes - I believe - that is, I do not care much for going into company where there are many people I do not know - I am very retiring, in my way, if you can believe such a thing of poor me; but Mrs. Partridge was most urgent that I be of the party, and it does seem that I may find friends there."

"Friends! Exactly so," exclaimed Mr. Elton, gazing down at Miss Hawkins complacently, while Mrs. Jeffereys and Miss Milman exchanged significant looks.