"
"Let us send for horses and go on at once," cried Sir Amyas.
"Not so fast, nephew. I see, by her face, that Miss Delavie does not
approve, though our side of the town is safer than Hounslow."
"I was not thinking of highwaymen, sir, but we set forth at five this
morning, and Sir Amyas always becomes flushed and feverish if he is
over fatigued; nor is my father so strong as he was."
"Ah, ha! young sir, in adopting Betty for a sister you find you have
adopted a quartermaster-general, eh?" said the Major; "but she is
quite right. We should not get to town before ten or eleven at
night, and what good would that do? No, no, let us sup and have
a good night's rest, and we will drive into town long enough before
fine ladies are astir in the morning, whatever may be the fashionable
hour nowadays."
"Yes, nephew, you must content yourself with acting host to your
father and sister-in-law in your own house," said his uncle.
"It seems to me more like yours, sir," rejoined the youth; but at the
hall door, with all his native grace, he turned and gave his welcome,
kissing Betty on the cheek with the grave ceremony of the host, and
lamenting, poor fellow, that he stood alone without his bride to
receive them.
"Is that Jumbo?" asked Betty. "I must thank him for all his kind
service to my dear sister.
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