Then her heart smote her for unkindness, and she sat in the firelight
listless and sad, though she hardly knew why, longing to go up and
pet and comfort her charges, but withheld by the remembrance of
Betty's assurances that leniency, in a like case, would be the ruin
of Eugene.
At last Jumbo came to summon her, and hastily recalling a cheerful air,
she entered the room with "Good evening, sir; you see I am still here
to trouble you."
"I continue to profit by my gentle friend's banishment. Tell me, was
my Lady in a gracious mood?"
"O sir, how beautiful she is, and how kind! I know now why my father
was so devoted to her, and no one can ever gainsay her!"
"The enchantress knows how to cast her spells. She was then friendly?"
"She gave me five guineas!" said Aurelia exultingly. "She said Mr.
Wayland wished to recompense me."
"Did he so? If it came from him I should have expected a more liberal
sum."
"But, oh!" in a tone of infinite surprise and content, "this is more
than I ever thought of. Indeed I never dreamt of her giving me
anything. Sir, may I write to your bookseller, Mr. Tonson, and
order a book of Mr. James Thomson's _Seasons_ to give to my sister
Harriet, who is delighted with the extracts I have copied for her?"
"Will not that consume a large proportion of the five guineas, my
generous friend?"
"I have enough left.
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