What,
still obstinate? Nay, then, Harry, I can take no excuse from you,
and I may have been able to collect some intelligence from the
servants."
Nothing remained but to take leave and walk home, the Major observing--
"Well, what think you of that, Betty?"
"Think, sir?--I think it is not for my lady to talk of villains."
"She is in absolute error respecting Belamour; but then she has not
seen him since his recovery. Women are prone to those fancies, and
in her unprotected state, poor thing, no wonder she takes alarms."
"I should have thought her rather over-protected."
"Now, Betty, you need not take a leaf out of Mrs. Duckworth's book,
and begin to be censorious. You saw how relieved she was to have me,
her own blood relation, to turn to, instead of that empty braggart
of a fellow. Besides, a man does not bring his step-mother when
there's anything amiss."
There was something in this argument, and Betty held her peace, knowing
that to censure my Lady only incited her father to defend her.
For her own part her consternation was great, and she walked on in
silence, only speaking again to acquiesce in her father's observation
that they must say nothing to Mr. Belamour of my Lady's plans for
his seclusion.
They found Mr. Belamour in the square parlour of the Royal York,
having sent Eugene out for a walk with Jumbo.
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