"
"Harriet, if you only knew either Mr. Belamour or Jumbo, you would
know that you are saying things most shocking!"
"Convince me, then! Look here, Aurelia, if you cannot write to me
and explain this double-faced or double-voiced husband of yours, I
vow to you that I shall speak to Mr. Arden, and write to my father."
"Oh! do not, do not, sister! Remember, it is of no use unless this
temper of affection be on him, and I have not heard it this fortnight,
no, nor more."
"Promise me, then, that you will make the experiment. See, here is
a little chain-stitch pouch--poor Peggy Duckworth's gift to me--with
two pockets. Let me fasten it under your dress, and then you will
always have it about you."
"If the bottle broke as I rode home!"
"Impossible; it is a scent-bottle of strong glass."
Here Mr. Arden knocked at the door, regretting to interrupt their
confidences, but dinner awaited them; and as, immediately after,
Mrs. Hunter brought her husband in his best wig to call on Madame
Belamour and her relations, the sisters had no more time together,
till the horses were at the door, and they went to their room
together to put on their hats.
A whole mass of refusals and declarations of perfect confidence
were on Aurelia's tongue, but Harriet cut them all short by saying,
"Remember, you are bound for your own honour and ours, to clear up
this mystery!"
Then they rode off their several ways, Madame Belamour towards
Bowstead, Mr.
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