A big man, who could
have carried ten times the weight of the box of shells, came in with
a little white dog with black ears, under his arm.
"There," said the amiable guardian of the house, "that smart madam
says that it's her ladyship's pleasure you should have that little
beast to keep down the rats. As if my cats was not enough! But
mind you, Madam Really, if so be he meddles with my cats, it will
be the worse for him."
The porter took up the box, and departed, and Aurelia was left with
her new companion sniffing all round the room, much excited by the
neighbourhood of his natural enemies. However, he obeyed her call,
and let her make friends, and read the name on the brass plate upon
his collar. When she read "Sir A. Belamour, Bart.," she took the
little dog in her arms and kissed it's white head.
Being fairly rested, and having no task to accomplish, she felt the
day much longer, though less solitary, in the companionship of the dog,
to whom she whispered many fond compliments, and vain questions as to
his name. With him at her heels and Madge and her cats safely shut
into the kitchen, she took courage to wander about the dull court,
and then to explore the mansion and try to get a view from the higher
windows, in case they were not shuttered up like the lower ones.
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