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Boiling。’—‘I am much obliged to you；’ replied Charlotte—‘but I
prefer Tea。’ ‘Then I will help myself；’ said he。—‘A large Dish of
rather weak Cocoa every evening； agrees with me better than any
thing。’—It struck her however； as he poured out this rather weak
Cocoa； that it came forth in a very fine； dark coloured stream—and
at the same moment； his Sisters both crying out—‘Oh！ Arthur； you
get your Cocoa stronger and stronger every Evening’； with
Arthur’s somewhat conscious reply of ‘Tis rather stronger than it
should be tonight’—convinced her that Arthur was by no means so
fond of being starved as they could desire； or as he felt proper
himself。—He was certainly very happy to turn the conversation on
dry Toast； and hear no more of his sisters。—‘I hope you will eat
some of this Toast；’ said he； ‘I reckon myself a very good Toaster； I
never burn my Toasts—I never put them too near the Fire at
first—and yet； you see； there is not a Corner but what is well
browned。—I hope you like dry Toast。’—‘With a reasonable
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quantity of Butter spread over it； very much’—said Charlotte—
‘but not otherwise。’ ‘No more do I’—said he exceedingly pleased—
‘We think quite alike there。—So far from dry Toast being
wholesome； I think it a very bad thing for the Stomach。 Without a
little butter to soften it； it hurts the Coats of the Stomach I am sure
it does。—I will have the pleasure of spreading some for you
directly—and afterwards I will spread some for myself。—Very bad
indeed for the Coats of the Stomach—but there is no convincing
some people。—It irritates and acts like a nutmeg grater。’ He could
not get command of the Butter however； without a struggle； His
Sisters accusing him of eating a great deal too much； and
declaring he was not to be trusted；—and he maintaining that he
only eat enough to secure the Coats of his Stomach；—and besides；
he only wanted it now for Miss Heywood。—Such a plea must
prevail； he got the butter and spread away for her with an
accuracy of Judgement which at least delighted himself； but when
her Toast was done； and he took his own in hand； Charlotte could
hardly contain herself as she saw him watching his sisters； while
he scrupulously scraped off almost as much butter as he put on；
and then seize an odd moment for adding a great dab just before it
went into his Mouth。—Certainly； Mr。 Arthur P。’s enjoyments in
Invalidism were very different from his sisters—by no means so
spiritualized。—A good deal of Earthy Dross hung about him。
Charlotte could not but suspect him of adopting that line of Life；
principally for the indulgence of an indolent Temper—and to be
determined on having no Disorders but such as called for warm
rooms and good Nourishment。—In one particular however； she
soon found that he had caught something from them。—‘What！’ said
he—‘Do you venture upon two dishes of strong Green Tea in one
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Evening？—What Nerves you must have！—How I envy you。—Now；
if I were to swallow only one such dish—what do you think it’s
effect would be upon me？’ ‘Keep you awake perhaps all night’—
replied Charlotte； meaning to overthrow his attempts at Surprise；
by the Grandeur of her own Conceptions。—‘Oh！ if that were all！’—
he exclaimed。—‘No—it acts on me like Poison and would entirely
take away the use of my right side； before I had swallowed it five
minutes。—It sounds almost incredible—but it has happened to me
so often that I cannot doubt it。—The use of my right Side is
entirely taken away for several hours！’ ‘It sounds rather odd to be
sure’—answered Charlotte coolly—‘but I dare say it would be
proved to be the simplest thing in the World； by those who have
studied right sides and Green Tea scientifically and thoroughly
understand all the possibilities of their action on each other。’—
Soon after Tea； a Letter was brought to Miss D。 P。 from the
Hotel。—‘From Mrs。 Charles Dupuis’—said she；—‘some private
hand。’—And having read a few lines； exclaimed aloud ‘Well； this is
very extraordinary！ very extraordinary indeed！—That both should
have the same name。—Two Mrs。 Griffiths！—This is a Letter of
recommendation and introduction to me； of the Lady from
Camberwell—and her name happens to be Griffiths too。’ A few
lines more however； and the colour rushed into her Cheeks； and
with much Perturbation she added—‘The oddest thing that ever
was！—a Miss Lambe too！—a young West…indian of large
Fortune。—But it cannot be the same。—Impossible that it should be
the same。—She read the Letter aloud for comfort。—It was merely
to ‘introduce the Bearer； Mrs。 G。— from Camberwell； and the
three young Ladies under her care； to Miss D。 P。’s notice。 Mrs。
G。— being a stranger at Sanditon； was anxious for a respectable
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Introduction—and Mrs。 C。 Dupuis therefore； at the instance of the
intermediate friend； provided her with this Letter； knowing that
she could not do her dear Diana a greater kindness than by giving
her the means of being useful。—Mrs。 G。’s chief solicitude would be
for the accommodation and comfort of one of the young Ladies
under her care； a Miss Lambe； a young W。 Indian of large Fortune；
in delicate health。’—‘It was very strange！—very remarkable！—very
extraordinary’ but they were all agreed in determining it to be
impossible that there should not be two Families； such a totally