If they would be seated he would remain where he was, and
enjoy the society he was again beginning to be able to appreciate.
He was, in fact, sitting within his own room, with eyes covered from
even the feeble glimmer in the outer room.
It was some minutes before they recovered their self-possession, but
Dr. Godfrey and Mr. Belamour began the conversation, and they gradually
joined in. It was chiefly full of reminiscences of the lively days
when Dr. Godfrey had been a young Cantab visiting his two friends at
Bowstead, and Phoebe and Delia were the belles of the village. Aurelia
scarcely opened her lips, but she was astonished to find how different
the two sisters could be from the censorious, contemptuous beings they
had seemed to her. The conversation lasted till supper-time, and Mr.
Belamour, as they took their leave, made them promise to come and see
him again. Then they were conducted back to the supper-room, Mrs.
Phoebe mysteriously asking "Is he always like this?"
The experiment had been a great success, and Aurelia completed it by
asking Mrs. Phoebe to take the head of the supper-table.
CHAPTER XVII. THE VICTIM DEMANDED.
And if thou sparest now to do this thing,
I will destroy thee and thy land also.--MORRIS.
"Well, sir, have you seen my Lady?"
"Not a year older than when I saw her last," returned Major Delavie,
who had just dismounted from his trusty pony at his garden gate, and
accepted Betty's arm; "and what think you?" he added, pausing that
Corporal Palmer might hear his news.
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