Charlotte could think of nothing more harmless to be said than the simple
enquiry of, 'Sir Edward and Miss Denham?'

'Yes, my dear; _my young folks_, as I call them, sometimes: for I take
them very much by the hand, and had them with me last summer, about this
time, for a week--from Monday to Monday--and very delighted and thankful
they were. For they are very good young people, my dear. I would not
have you think that I only notice them for poor dear Sir Harry's sake.
No, no; they are very deserving themselves, or, trust me, they would not
be so much in my company. I am not the woman to help anybody blindfold.
I always take care to know what I am about, and who I have to deal with
before I stir a finger. I do not think I was ever overreached in my
life; and that is a good deal for a woman to say that has been twice
married. Poor dear Sir Harry (between ourselves) thought at first to
have got more, but (with a bit of a sigh) he is gone, and we must not
find fault with the dead. Nobody could live happier together than us:
and he was a very honourable man, quite the gentleman, of ancient family;
and when he died I gave Sir Edward his gold watch.'

This was said with a look at her companion which implied its right to
produce a great impression; and seeing no rapturous astonishment in
Charlotte's countenance, she added quickly,

'He did not bequeath it to his nephew, my dear; it was no bequest; it was
not in the will. He only told me, and _that_ but _once_, that he should
wish his nephew to have his watch; but it need not have been binding, if
I had not chose it.'

'Very kind indeed, very handsome!' said Charlotte, absolutely forced to