Her golden bow she bends, Her deadly arrows sending forth. Greek Hymn (KEIGHTLEY).
On coming in from a walk, Aurelia was surprised by the tidings that Mistress Phoebe Treforth had come to call on her, and had left a billet. The said billet was secured with floss silk sealed down in the antiquated fashion, and was written on full-sized quarto paper. These were the contents:-
"Madam,
"My Sister and Myself are desirous of the Honour of your Acquaintance, and shall be happy if you will do use the Pleasure of coming to partake of Dinner at Three o'Clock on Tuesday, the 13th instant.
"I remain, "Yours to command, "DELIA TREFORTH."
Aurelia carried the invitation to her oracle.
"My cousins are willing to make your acquaintance?" said he. "That is well. Jumbo shall escort you home in the evening."
"Thank you, sir, but must I accept the invitation?"
"It could not be declined without incivility. Moreover, the Mistresses Treforth are highly respected, and your father and sister will certainly think it well for you to have female friends."
"Do you think those ladies could ever be my friends, sir?" she asked, with an intonation that made him reply, with a sound of amusement.
"I am no judge in such matters, but they are ladies connected and esteemed, who might befriend and counsel you in case of need, and at any rate, it is much more suitable that you should be on terms of friendly intercourse with them. I am heartily glad they have shown you this attention."
"I do not mean to be ungrateful, sir."
"And I think you have disproved that Crabbed age and youth Cannot live together."
"If they were only like you, sir!"
"What would they say to that?" he said with the slight laugh that had begun to enliven his voice. "I suppose your charges are not included in the invitation?"
"No; but Molly can take care of them, if my Lady will not object to my leaving them."
"She cannot reasonably do so."
"And, sir, shall I be permitted to come home in time for you to receive me?"
"I fear I must forego that pleasure. The ladies will insist on cards and supper. Jumbo shall come for you at nine o'clock."
Aurelia submitted, and tripped down arrayed in the dress that recalled the fete at Carminster, except that only a little powder was sprinkled on her temples. The little girls jumped round her in admiring ecstasy, and, under Molly's charge, escorted her to the garden gate, and hovered outside to see her admitted, while she knocked timidly at the door, in the bashful alarm of making her first independent visit.