To prepare Amelia to receive Sir John Hunter _properly_ was Mrs.
Beaumont's next attempt; for as she had represented to Mr. Palmer that
her daughter was attached to Sir John, it was necessary that her manner
should in some degree accord with this representation, that at least it
should not exhibit any symptoms of disapprobation or dislike: whatever
coldness or reserve might appear, it would be easy to attribute to
bashfulness and dread of Mr. Palmer's observation. When Amelia was
undressing at night, her mother went into her room; and, having
dismissed the maid, threw herself into an arm-chair, and exclaimed,
half-yawning, "How tired I am!--No wonder, such a long airing as we
took to-day. But, my dear Amelia, I could not sleep to-night without
telling you how glad I am to find that you are such a favourite with
Mr. Palmer."

"I am glad he likes me," said Amelia; "I am sure I like him. What a
benevolent, excellent man he seems to be!"

"Excellent, excellent--the best creature in the world!--And so
interested about you! and so anxious that you should be well and soon
established; almost as anxious about it as I am myself."

"He is very good--and you are very good, mamma; but there is no occasion
that I should be _soon established_, as it is called--is there?"

"That is the regular answer, you know, in these cases, from every young
lady that ever was born, in or out of a book within the memory of man.
But we will suppose all that to be said prettily on your part, and
answered properly on mine: so give me leave to go on to something more