"When I could,
I gave them my name and they asked no more. Yet what did they tell
me of a sealed letter from my brother, addressed to me? True, I
heard of it more than once, but I could ask no one to read it to
me, and I closed my ears. In Wayland's hands I knew the youth was
well cared for, and only now do I feel that I have ill requited my
brother's confidence."
"Indeed, sir, I cannot see how you could have done otherwise," said
Aurelia, who could not bear to hear his tone of self-reproach.
"My amiable visitor!" he exclaimed, as though recalled to a sense of
her presence. "Excuse the absence of mind which has inflicted on you
the selfish murmurs of the old recluse. Tell me how you prospered
with my cousins, whom I remember as sprightly maidens. Phoebe had
somewhat of the prude, Delia of the coquette."
"I could imagine what you say of Mistress Phoebe, sir, better than of
Mistress Delia."
"Had they any guests to meet you?"
"A Mrs. Hunter, sir, from Brentford, a doctor's wife I suppose."
"You are right. She was a cousin of theirs on the other side of the
house, a loud-voiced buxom lass, who was thought to have married
beneath here when she took Dr. Hunter; but apparently they have
forgiven her."
Mr. Belamour was evidently much interested and amused by Aurelia's
small experiences and observations, such as they were.
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