"
"_Aut Caesar aut nullus_--the best or nothing. I don't want Clarissa to be
gadding about to all the tea-drinkings in Holborough; and if I let her go
to one house, I must let her go to all"
"But you will let her come to me?"
"That is the best, my dear Lady Laura. Yes, of course she may come to you,
whenever you may please to be troubled with her."
"Then I please to be troubled with her immediately. I should like to carry
her away with me this afternoon, if it were possible; but I suppose that
can't be--there will be a trunk to be packed, and so on. When will you
come to me, Miss Lovel? Do you know, I am strongly tempted to call you
Clarissa?"
"I should like it so much better," the girl answered, blushing.
"What! may I? Then I'm sure I will. It's such a pretty name, reminding one
of that old novel of Richardson's, which everybody quotes and no one ever
seems to have read. When will you come, Clarissa?"
"Give her a week," said her father; "she'll want a new white muslin gown, I
daresay; young women always do when they are going visiting."
"Now, pray don't let her trouble herself about anything of that kind; my
maid shall see to all that sort of thing. We will make her look her best,
depend upon it. I mean this visit to be a great event in her life, Mr.
Lovel, if possible."
"Don't let there be any fuss or trouble about her. Every one knows that I
am poor, and that she will be penniless when I am gone.
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