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than to wave her hand and collect them around her for choice。—
Her concluding effort in the cause； had been a few polite lines of
Information to Mrs。 G。 herself—time not allowing for the
circuitous train of intelligence； which had been hitherto kept up；—
and she was now regaling in the delight of opening the first
Trenches of an acquaintance with such a powerful discharge of
unexpected Obligation。 Mr。 and Mrs。 P。—and Charlotte had seen
two Post chaises crossing the Down to the Hotel as they were
setting off；—a joyful sight—and full of speculation。—The Miss
P。s—and Arthur had also seen something；—they could distinguish
from their window that there was an arrival at the Hotel； but not
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its amount。 Their Visitors answered for two Hack…Chaises。—Could
it be the Camberwell Seminary？—No—No。—Had there been a
third carriage； perhaps it might； but it was very generally agreed
that two Hack chaises could never contain a Seminary。—Mr。 P。
was confident of another new Family。—When they were all finally
seated； after some removals to look at the Sea and the Hotel；
Charlotte’s place was by Arthur； who was sitting next to the Fire
with a degree of Enjoyment which gave a good deal of merit to his
civility in wishing her to take his Chair。—There was nothing
dubious in her manner of declining it； and he sat down again with
much satisfaction。 She drew back her Chair to have all the
advantage of his Person as a screen； and was very thankful for
every inch of Back and Shoulders beyond her pre…conceived idea。
Arthur was heavy in Eye as well as figure； but by no means
indisposed to talk；—and while the other four were chiefly engaged
together； he evidently felt it no penance to have a fine young
Woman next to him； requiring in common Politeness some
attention—as his Brother who felt the decided want of some
motive for action； some Powerful object of animation for him；
observed with considerable pleasure。—Such was the influence of
Youth and Bloom that he began even to make a sort of apology for
having a Fire。 ‘We should not have one at home；’ said he； ‘but the
Sea air is always damp。 I am not afraid of any thing so much as
Damp。’ ‘I am so fortunate；’ said C。 ‘as never to know whether the
air is damp or dry。 It has always some property that is wholesome
and invigorating to me。’ ‘I like the Air too； as well as any body can；’
replied Arthur； ‘I am very fond of standing at an open Window
when there is no Wind—but unluckily a Damp air does not like
me。—It gives me the Rheumatism。—You are not rheumatic I
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suppose？’ ‘Not at all。’ ‘That’s a great blessing。—But perhaps you
are nervous。’ ‘No—I believe not。 I have no idea that I am。’—‘I am
very nervous。—To say the truth Nerves are the worst part of my
Complaints in my opinion。 My Sisters think me Bilious； but I
doubt it。’ ‘You are quite in the right； to doubt it as long as you
possibly can； I am sure。’ ‘If I were Bilious；’ he continued； ‘you
know Wine would disagree with me； but it always does me good。—
The more Wine I drink （in Moderation） the better I am。—I am
always best of an Evening。—If you had seen me to…day before
Dinner； you would have thought me a very poor Creature。’
Charlotte could believe it。 She kept her countenance however； and
said—‘As far as I can understand what nervous complaints are； I
have a great idea of the efficacy of air and exercise for them：—
daily； regular Exercise；—and I should recommend rather more of
it to you than I suspect you are in the habit of taking。’—‘Oh！ I am
very fond of exercise myself’—he replied—‘and mean to walk a
great deal while I am here； if the Weather is temperate。 I shall be
out every morning before breakfast—and take several turns upon
the Terrace； and you will often see me at Trafalgar House。’—‘But
you do not call a walk to Trafalgar House much exercise？’ ‘Not； as
to mere distance； but the Hill is so steep！—Walking up that Hill； in
the middle of the day； would throw me into such a Perspiration！—
You would see me all in a Bath by the time I got there！—I am very
subject to Perspiration； and there cannot be a surer sign of
Nervousness。’ They were now advancing so deep in Physics； that
Charlotte viewed the entrance of the Servant with the Tea things；
as a very fortunate Interruption。—It produced a great and
immediate change。 The young Man’s attentions were instantly
lost。 He took his own Cocoa from the Tray；—which seemed
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provided with almost as many Teapots &c as there were persons
in company； Miss P。 drinking one sort of Herb…Tea and Miss Diana
another； and turning completely to the Fire； sat coddling and
cooking it to his own satisfaction and toasting some Slices of
Bread； brought up ready…prepared in the Toast rack—and till it
was all done； she heard nothing of his voice but the murmuring of
a few broken sentences of self…approbation and success。—When
his Toils were over however； he moved back his Chair into as
gallant a Line as ever； and proved that he had not been working
only for himself； by his earnest invitation to her to take both Cocoa
and Toast。—She was already helped to Tea—which surprised
him—so totally self…engrossed had he been。—‘I thought I should
have been in time；’ said he； ‘but cocoa takes a great deal of
Boiling。’—‘I am much obliged to you；’ replied Charlotte—‘b