"
"Indeed! Alone with him?"
"Jumbo was there."
The two old ladies drew themselves up, while Mrs. Hunter chuckled
and giggled. "Indeed!" said Mrs. Phoebe; "we should never see a
gentleman in private without each other's company, or that of some
female companion."
"I consulted Mrs. Aylward," returned Aurelia, "and she said he was
old enough to be my father."
"Mrs. Aylward may be a respectable housekeeper, though far too lavish
of butcher's meat, but I should never have recourse to her on a matter
of decorum," said Mrs. Phoebe.
Aurelia's cheeks burnt, but she still defended herself. "I have heard
from my father and my sister," she said, "and they make no objection."
"Hoity-toity! What means this heat, miss?" exclaimed Mrs. Phoebe;
"I am only telling you, as a kindness, what we should have thought
becoming with regard even to a blood relation of our own."
"Thank you, ma'am," said Aurelia; "but, you see, you are so much nearer
his age, that the cases are not alike."
She said it in all simplicity, and did not perceive, at first, why the
two sisters drew themselves up in so much offence, or why Mrs. Hunter
cried, "Oh, fie, for shame, you saucy chit! Bless me!" she continued,
more good-naturedly, "Cousin Phoebe, times are changed since we were
young, and poor Sir Jovian and his brother were the county beaux.
Pages:
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142