know how many children.'

'O, the curly-headed varlets! I must come to play at Blind Harry
and Hy Spy with them. But what is all this?' added Pleydell,
taking up the plans. 'Tower in the centre to be an imitation of
the Eagle Tower at Caernarvon--corps de logis--the devil! Wings--
wings! Why, the house will take the estate of Ellangowan on its
back and fly away with it!'

'Why, then, we must ballast it with a few bags of sicca rupees,'
replied the Colonel.

'Aha! sits the wind there? Then I suppose the young dog carries
off my mistress Julia?'

'Even so, Counsellor.'

'These rascals, the post-nati, get the better of us of the old
school at every turn,' said Mr. Pleydell. 'But she must convey and
make over her interest in me to Lucy.'

'To tell you the truth, I am afraid your flank will be turned
there too,' replied the Colonel.

'Indeed?'

'Here has been Sir Robert Hazlewood,' said Mannering, 'upon a
visit to Bertram, thinking and deeming and opining--'

'O Lord! pray spare me the worthy Baronet's triads!'