They were a good deal subdued, though as Aurelia listened to the
conversation, it was plain enough what Mr. Belamour meant when he
said that his cousin Delia was something of the coquette.
Still they asked with evident awe if it were true that their unfortunate
cousin really intended to admit them, and they evidently became more
and more nervous while waiting for Jumbo's summons. Dr. Godfrey gave
his arm to Mrs. Phoebe, and Mrs. Delia gripped hold of Aurelia's,
trembling all over, declaring she felt ready to swoon, and marvelling
how Miss Delavie could ever have ventured, all alone too!
After all, things had been made much less formidable than at Aurelia's
first introduction. The sitting-room was arranged as it was when Mr.
Greaves read prayers, with a very faint light from a shrouded lamp
behind the window curtain. To new comers it seemed pitchy darkness,
but to Aurelia and Dr. Godfrey it was a welcome change, allowing them
at least to perceive the forms of one another, and of the furniture.
From a blacker gulf, being the doorway to the inner room, came Mr.
Belamour's courteous voice of greeting to his kinswomen, who were led
up by their respective guides to take his hand; after which he begged
them to excuse the darkness, since the least light was painful to him
still.
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