MOORE.
Meanwhile Aurelia, mounted on a pair of pattens brought by the negro
to keep her above the dew, was crossing the park by the light of a
fine hunter's moon, Jumbo marching at a respectful distance in the
rear. He kept on chuckling to himself with glee, and when she looked
round at him, he informed her with great exultation that "Mas'r had
not been alone. His honour had been to see him. Mas'r so glad."
"Sir Amyas!" exclaimed Aurelia: "Is he there still?"
"No, missie. He went away before supper."
"Did he see the young ladies?"
"Oh, yes, missie. He came before mas'r up, quite promiskius," said
Jumbo, who loved a long word. "I tell him, wait till mas'r be dress,
and took him to summer parlour. He see little missies out in garden;
ask what chil'ren it was. His Hounour's sisters, Miss Fay, Missie
Letty, Missie Amy, I say! His Honour wonder. 'My sisters,' he say,
'my sisters here,' and out he goes like a flash of lightning and was
in among them."
Aurelia's first thought was "Oh, I hope they were clean and neat, and
that they behaved themselves. I wish I had been at home." Wherewith
followed the recollection that Sir Amyas had been called her beau,
and her cheeks burnt; but the recent disagreeable lecture on etiquette
showed her that it would only have led to embarrassment and vexation
to have had any question of an interview with a young gentleman by so
little her elder.
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