"
Faithful Jumbo fairly wept when--infinite condescension for those
days--Major Delavie shook hands with him and thanked him.
"If pretty Missie Madam were but safe and well, Jumbo would wish no
more," he sobbed out.
"Poor Jumbo," said Mr. Belamour, "he has never been the same man since
pretty Missie Madam has been lost. I hear his violin mourning for her
till it is enough to break one's heart!"
However Eugene created a diversion by curious inquiries whether Jumbo
would indeed play the fiddle of which he had heard from Archer and
Amoret, and he ran off most eagerly after the negro to be introduced
to the various curiosities of the place.
Mrs. Aylward attended Miss Delavie to her room, and showed herself
much softened. As a good, conscientious woman, she felt that she
had acted a selfish part towards the lonely maiden, and Betty's
confident belief that she had been a kind friend was a keen reproach.
"Indeed, madam," she said, "I would lief you could truly call me such,
but when young Miss came here first I took her for one of that flighty
sort that it is wise not to meddle with more than needful. I have
kept my place here these thirty years by never making or meddling,
and knowing nothing about what don't concern me, and is out of my
province.
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