"I scarcely expected this pleasure to-night. These rural festivities
are often protracted."
"O sir, I was heartily glad to escape and to get the children away.
The people were becoming so rude and riotous that I was frightened.
I never would have gone, had I known what it would be like, but at
home the people are fond of asking us to their harvest feasts, and
they always behave well whilst we are there."
"No doubt they hold your father in respect."
"Yes," said Aurelia, unwilling to tell him how much alarmed and
offended she had been, though quite unintentionally. Dame Wheatfield
only intended hospitality; but in her eyes "Miss" was merely a poor
governess, and that to the little Waylands--mere interlopers in the
eyes of the Belamour tenantry. So the good woman had no idea that
the rough gallantry of the young farmer guests was inappropriate,
viewing it as the natural tribute to her guest's beauty, and mistaking
genuine offence for mere coyness, until, finding it was real earnest,
considerable affront was taken at "young madam's fine airs, and she
only a poor kinswoman of my Lady's!" Quite as ill was it received
that the young lady had remonstrated against the indigestible cakes
and strange beverages administered to all her charges, and above all
to Amoret.
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