You have been so kind and good to me, sir, and I do so enjoy
coming to you. And you would be all alone again with Jumbo! Oh sir,
could you not drive down if all the coach windows were close shut up?
You would have my papa to talk to!"
"And what would your papa say to having a miserable old hermit
inflicted on him?"
"He would be only too glad."
No, no, my gentle friend, there are other reasons. I could not make
my abode in Lady Belamour's house, while in that of my nephew, my
natural home, I have a right to drag out what remains of the existence
of mine. Nay, are you weeping, my sweet child? That must not be;
your young life must take no darkness from mine. Even should Lady
Belamour's arbitrary caprice bear you off without another meeting,
remember that you have given me many more happy hours than I ever
supposed to be in store for me, and have opened doors which shall
not be closed again."
"You will get some one to recite to you?" entreated Aurelia, her voice
most unsteady.
"Godfrey shall seek out some poor scholar or exhausted poetaster,
with a proviso that he never inflicts his own pieces on me," said Mr.
Belamour, in a tone more as if he wished to console her than as it
were a pleasing prospect. "Never fear, gentle monitress, I will
not sink into the stagnation from which your voice awoke me.
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