Page:Austen Sanditon and other miscellanea.djvu/86

other and be settled after breakfast to-morrow. I have not much confidence in poor Arthur’s skill for Lodging-taking, but he seemed to like the commission.’ ‘I think you are doing too much,’ said Mr. Parker. ‘You will knock yourself up. You should not move again after Dinner.’ ‘No, indeed you should not,’ cried his wife, ‘for Dinner is such a mere name with you all, that it can do you no good. I know what your appetites are.’ ‘My appetite is very much mended, I assure you, lately. I have been taking some Bitters of my own decocting, which have done wonders. Susan never eats, I grant you, and just at present I shall want nothing; I never eat for about a week after a Journey, but as for Arthur, he is only too much disposed for Food. We are often obliged to check him.’ ‘But you have not told me any thing of the other Family coming to Sanditon,’ said Mr. Parker as he walked with her to the door of the House; ‘the Camberwell Seminary, have we a good chance of them? ‘Oh! Certain—quite certain. I had forgotten them for the moment, but I had a letter 3 days ago from my friend Mrs. Charles Dupuis which assured me of Camberwell. Camberwell will be here to a certainty, and very soon. That good Woman (I do not know her name) not being so wealthy and independent as Mrs. Griffiths, can travel and choose for herself. I will tell you how I got at her. Mrs. Charles Dupuis lives almost next door to a Lady, who has a relation lately settled at Clapham, who actually attends the Seminary and gives lessons on Eloquence and Belles Lettres to some of the Girls. I got that Man a Hare from one of Sidney's friends, and he recommended Sanditon. Without my appearing, however, Mrs. Charles Dupuis managed it all.’