And
the Major smiled in return, put a word or two into the discussion
on affairs, and then, as soon as he thought he could take leave
without betraying anxiety, he limped down stairs, and called for
his horse. Lady Belamour's letters were wont to be calls for money,
not easily answered, and were never welcome sights, and this hung
heavy in the laced pocket of his coat.
Palmer met him at the back gate, and took his horse, but judged it
advisable to put no questions about the news, while his master made
his way in by the kitchen entrance of the rambling old manor house,
and entered a stone-paved low room, a sort of office or study, where
he received, and paid, money for my Lady, and smoked his pipe. Here
he sat down in his wooden armchair, spread forth his legs, and took
out the letter, opening it with careful avoidance of defacing the
large red seal, covered with many quarterings, and the Delavie
escutcheon of pretence reigning over all.
It opened, as he expected, with replies to some matters about leases
and repairs; and then followed:--
"I am informed that you have a large Family, and Daughters growing up
whom it is desirable to put in the way of making a good Match, or else
an honourable Livelihood; I am therefore willing, for the Sake of our
Family Connection, to charge myself with your youngest Girl, whose Name
I understand to be Aurelia.
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