And oh!
to be with him and Betty once more!
She was ready in good time, and had spent her leisure in packing.
When Loveday appeared, she was greeted with a petition that the two
little girls might accompany her; but this was refused at once, and
the waiting-maid added in her caressing, consoling tone that Mrs.
Dove was coming with their little brother and sister to take them
a drive into the country. They skipped about with glee, following
Aurelia to the door of the court, and promising her posies of
honeysuckles and roses, and she left her dear love with them for
Amoret and Nurse Dove.
At the door was a sedan chair, in which Aurelia was carried to some
broad stone stairs, beside which lay a smartly-painted, trim-looking
boat with four stout oarsmen. She was handed into the stern, Loveday
sitting opposite to her. The woman was unusually silent, and could
hardly be roused to reply to Aurelia's eager questions as she passed
the gardens of Lincoln's Inn, saw St. Paul's rise above her, shot
beneath the arch of London Bridge, and beheld the massive walls of
the Tower with its low-browed arches opening above their steps.
Whenever a scarlet uniform came in view, how the girl's eyes
strained after it, thinking of one impossible, improbable chance
of a recognition! Once or twice she thought of a far more terrible
chance, and wondered whether Lady Belamour knew how little confidence
could be placed in Loveday; but she was sure that their expedition
was my lady's own device, and the fresh air and motion, with all the
new scenes, were so delightful to her that she could not dwell on any
alarms.
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