Ever
since your Departure Mr. Arden has redoubled his Assiduities in a
certain Quarter, and as it is thought the Dean and Chapter are not
unlikely to present him to a good Vicarage in Buckinghamshire, it
is not unlikely that ere long you may hear of a Wedding in the
Family, although Harriet would be extremely angry with me for daring
to give such a Hint."
Certainly Aurelia would not have gathered the hint from Harriet's
letter, which was very sentimental about her own loneliness and lack
of opportunity, in contrast with Aurelia, who was seeing the world.
That elegant beau, Sir Amyas, had just given a sample to tantalise
their rusticity, and then had vanished; and here was that oddity,
Mr. Arden, more wearisome and pertinacious than ever. So tiresome!
CHAPTER X. THE DARK CHAMBER.
Or singst thou rather under force
Of some Divine command,
Commissioned to presage a course
Of happier days at hand?
COWPER.
Aurelia was coming down stairs in the twilight after singing her
charges to sleep about three weeks after her arrival, when she saw
Jumbo waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
She had long ceased to be afraid of him. Indeed he had quite amazed
her by his good-nature in helping to lift down naughty little Letitia,
who was clambering up to the window of his master's chamber to look
through the crevices of the shutters.
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