Naturally
reserved, and disapproving much that she saw around her, she had never
held it to be needful to do more than preserve her own integrity, and
the interests of her employers, and she made it a principle to be in
no wise concerned in family affairs, and to hold aloof from perilous
confidences.
Thus Aurelia was left to herself, till three bowls of milk were borne
in by Molly, who was by no means loth to speak.
"The little misses will be down directly, ma'am," she said, "that is,
two on 'em. The little one, she won't leave Jenny Bowles, but Dame
Wheatfield, she'll bring down the other two. You see, ma'am, they be
only just taken home from being out at nurse, and don't know one
another, nor the place, and a pretty handful we shall have of 'em."
Here came a call for Molly, and the girl with a petulant exclamation,
sped away, leaving Aurelia to the society of the tapestry. It was of
that set of Gobelin work which represents the four elements personified
by their goddesses, and Aurelia's mythology, founded on Fenelon, was
just sufficient to enable her to recognise the forge of Vulcan and the
car [chariot--D.L.] of Venus. Then she looked at the work prepared
for her, a creamy piece of white satin, and a most elaborate pattern
of knots of roses, lilacs, hyacinths, and laburnums, at which her heart
sank within her.
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