The dinner was ordered at one, and at three Aurelia would ride home,
while Mr. and Mrs. Arden went on about twelve miles to the house of
a great grazier, brother to the Alderman's wife, where they had been
invited to make their next stage, and spend the next day, Sunday,
when Harriet reckoned on picking up information about cattle, if she
were not actually presented with a cow or a calf. They went out and
walked a little about the town, where presently they met Mrs. Hunter.
Aurelia met her puzzled stare with a curtsey, and she shouted in her
hearty tone "Miss Delavie!--I mean Mrs. Belamour! Who would have
thought of seeing you here!"
"I am here to meet my sister--Mrs. Arden. Let me--let me present
you," said Aurelia in obedience to an imperious sign from her sister,
going through the form for the first time, while Harriet volubly
declared her happiness in making Mrs. Hunter's acquaintance, and
explained how they were on their way to take possession of Mr. Arden's
rectory of Rundell Canonicorum, the words rolling out of her mouth
with magnificent emphasis. "I congratulate you, ma'am," said Mrs.
Hunter, cordially, "and you too, my dear," she added, turning to
Aurelia. "I would have been out long ago to call on you--a sort of
relation as you are now, as I may say--but it was kept all so mum,
one never knew the time to drink your health; and my Cousins Treforth
wouldn't so much as give me a hint.
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