She trusted that she knew her duty,
and so did Miss Delavie.
CHAPTER XV. THE QUEEN OF BEAUTY.
O bright _regina_, who made thee so faire,
Who made thy colour vermeilie and white?
Now marveile I nothing that ye do hight
The quene of love.--CHAUCER.
Only a week had elapsed before the quiet of Bowstead was again
disturbed by the arrival of two grooms, with orders that everything
should be made ready the next day for the arrival of my Lady, who
was on her way to Carminster for a few weeks, and afterwards to Bath.
Forthwith Mrs. Aylward and her subordinates fell into a frenzy of
opening shutters, lighting fires, laying down carpets and uncovering
furniture. Scrubbing was the daily task for the maids, and there was
nothing extra possible in that line, but there was hurry enough to
exacerbate the temper, and when Aurelia offered her services she was
tartly told that she could solely be useful by keeping the children
out of the way; for in spite of all rebuffs, they persisted in
haunting the footsteps of the housekeeper and maids, Fay gazing with
delight at the splendours that were revealed, Amy proffering undesired
aid, Letty dancing in the most inconvenient places, romancing about
her mamma and little brother, and making sure that her big beautiful
brother was also coming.
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