No one would have more valiantly faced poverty than Elizabeth Delavie,
had she alone been concerned. Cavalier and Jacobite blood was in her
veins, and her unselfish character had been trained by a staunch and
self-devoted mother. But her father's age and Eugene's youth made
her waver. She might work her fingers to the bone, and live on
oatmeal, to give her father the comforts he required; but to have
Eugene brought down from his natural station was more than she could
endure. His welfare must be secured at the cost not only of Aurelia's
sweet presence, but of her happiness; and Betty durst not ask herself
what more she dreaded, knowing too that she would probably be quite
incapable of altering her father's determination whatever it might be,
and that he was inclined to trust Lady Belamour. The only chance of
his refusal was that he should take alarm at the manner of requiring
his daughter from him.
CHAPTER V. THE SUMMONS.
But when the King knew that the thing must be,
And that no help there was in this distress,
He bade them have all things in readiness
To take the maiden out.--MORRIS.
The second Sunday of suspense had come. The Sundays of good young
ladies little resembled those of a century later, though they were not
devoid of a calm peacefulness, worthy of the "sweet day, so cool, so
calm, so bright.
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