I verily believe it is
all spite on the Colonel's part, for Russell would have exchanged the
turn with me, but he sent down special orders for me. I have but half
an hour to spend here, and when I shall be able to get back again
Heaven only knows."
However, he and Aurelia were permitted to improve that half hour to
the utmost in their own way, while the Major and Betty were reading
a long and characteristic letter from Mrs. Arden, inquiring certainly
for her sister's fate, but showing far more solicitude in proving that
she (Harriet Arden) had acted a wise, prudent, and sisterly part, and
that it was most unreasonable and cruel to treat her as accountable
for her sister's disappearance. It was really making her quite ill,
and Mr. Arden was like a man--so disagreeable about it.
Betty was very glad this epistle had not come till it was possible to
laugh at it. She would have sat down to reply to it at once, had not
a billet been brought in from the widow of one of her father's old
brother officers who had heard of his being in town, and begged him
to bring his daughter to see her, excusing herself for not waiting on
Miss Delavie, as she was very feeble and infirm.
It was a request that could not be refused, but Aurelia was not equipped
for such a visit, and shrank timidly from showing herself.
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