The were very unwilling to let Aurelia call them away to practise
them in bridling, curtseying, and saying "Yes, madam," according to
the laws of good breeding so carefully inculcated by sister at home.
So anxious was she that she tried them over and over again till
they were wearied out, and became so cross and naughty that nothing
restored good-homour except gathering blackberries to feast brother
Archer.
The intelligence produced less apparent excitement in the dark chamber.
When Aurelia, in an eager, awe-stricken voice began, "O sir, have you
heard that my Lady is coming?" he calmly replied,
"The sounds in the house have amply heralded her, to say nothing of
Jumbo."
"I wonder what she will do!"
"You will not long have known her, my fair friend, without discovering
that she is one of the most inscrutable of her sex. The mere endeavour
to guess at her plans only produces harassing surmises and alarms."
"Do you think, sir, she can mean to take me away?"
"I suppose that would be emancipation to you, my poor child."
"I should dance to find myself going home," said Aurelia, "yet how
could I bear to leave my little girls, or you, sir. Oh! if you could
only live at the Great House, at home, I should be quite happy."
"Then you would not willingly abandon the recluse?"
"Indeed," she said with a quivering in her voice, "I cannot endure the
notion.
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