The youth, who
though four years older, was by far the more simple and innocent of
the two, replied with great gravity, "It is the Lady Belamour, my
own wife, that I am seeking."
"That's just the nonsense she talks!"
"For Heaven's sake, what did she say?"
But Belle was tired of her game, and threw herself boisterously on a
young lady who had the "sweetest enamel necklace in the world," and
whose ornaments she began to handle and admire in true spoilt-child
fashion.
Sir Amyas then betook himself to the Major, who saw at once by his eye
and step that something was gained. They took leave together, Lady
Belamour making a hurried lamentation that she had seen so little of
her dear cousin, but accepting her son's excuse that he must return
to his quarters; and they walked away together escorted by Palmer and
Grey, as well as by two link-boys, summer night though it was.
Sir Amyas repaired first to the hotel, where Mr. Belamour and Betty
were still sitting, for even the fashionable world kept comparatively
early hours, and it was not yet eleven o'clock. The parlor where
they sat was nearly dark, one candle out and the other shaded so as
to produce the dimness which Mr. Belamour still preferred, and they
were sitting on either side of the open window, Betty listening to
her companion's reminiscences of the evenings enlivened by poor
Aurelia, and of the many traits of her goodness, sweet temper, and
intelligence which he had stored up in his mind.
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