Chapter 18

           "IhopeIshallsoonhavethepleasureofintroducingmysontoyou,"saidMr.Weston.

           Mrs.Elton,verywillingtosupposeaparticularcomplimentintendedherbysuchahope,smiledmostgraciously.

           "YouhaveheardofacertainFrankChurchill,Ipresume,"hecontinued—"andknowhimtobemyson,thoughhedoesnotbearmyname."

           "Oh!yes,andIshallbeveryhappyinhisacquaintance.IamsureMr.Eltonwilllosenotimeincallingonhim;andweshallbothhavegreatpleasureinseeinghimattheVicarage."

           "Youareveryobliging.—Frankwillbeextremelyhappy,Iamsure.—Heistobeintownnextweek,ifnotsooner.Wehavenoticeofitinaletterto-day.Imetthelettersinmywaythismorning,andseeingmyson’shand,presumedtoopenit—thoughitwasnotdirectedtome—itwastoMrs.Weston.Sheishisprincipalcorrespondent,Iassureyou.Ihardlyevergetaletter."

           "Andsoyouabsolutelyopenedwhatwasdirectedtoher!Oh!Mr.Weston—(laughingaffectedly)Imustprotestagainstthat.—Amostdangerousprecedentindeed!—Ibegyouwillnotletyourneighboursfollowyourexample.—Uponmyword,ifthisiswhatIamtoexpect,wemarriedwomenmustbegintoexertourselves!—Oh!Mr.Weston,Icouldnothavebelieveditofyou!"

           "Aye,wemenaresadfellows.Youmusttakecareofyourself,Mrs.Elton.