"A peevish child! I am glad I did not choose her."
"She is usually very good, madam," said Aurelia, eagerly.
"Is she your favourite?"
"I try not to make favourites, madam."
"Ah! there spoke the true Manor House tone," said her Ladyship, rather mockingly. "Maybe she will be a wit, for she will never be a beauty, but the other little one will come on in due time after Amoret."
"Your Ladyship will find Amoret a dear, good, affectionate child," said Aurelia. "Only---"
"Reserve that for nurse, so please you, my good girl. It is enough for me to see the brats on their good manners now and then. You have had other recreations--shall I call them, or cares? I never supposed, when I sent you here to attend on the children, that the hermit of Bowstead would summon you! I assure you it is an extraordinary honour."
"I so esteem it, madam," said Aurelia, blushing.
"More honour than pleasure, eh?"
"A great pleasure, madam."
"Say you so?" and the glittering blue eyes were keenly scanning the modest face. "I should have thought a young maid like you would have had the dismals at the mere notion of going near his dark chamber. I promise you it gives me the megrim [migraine--D.L.] to look forward to it."
"I was affrighted at first, madam," said Aurelia; "but Mr. Belamour is so good and kind to me that I exceedingly enjoy the hours I spend with him."
"La, child, you speak with warmth! We shall have you enamoured of a voice like the youth they make sonnets about--what's his name?"
"Narcissus, madam," said Aurelia, put out of countenance by the banter.
"Oh, you are learned. Is Mr. Belamour your tutor, pray? And--oh fie! I have seen that ring before!"
"He gave it to me yesterday," faltered Aurelia, "in case you should intend to take me away, and I should not see him again. I hope I was not wrong in accepting it, madam."
"Wrong, little fool, assuredly not," said my Lady, laughing. "It is an ensign of victory. Why, child, you have made a conquest worthy of--let me see. You, or the wits, could tell me who it was that stormed the very den of Cocytus and bore off the spoil!"
Aurelia liked the tone too little to supply the names; yet she felt flattered; but she said quietly, "I am happy to have been the means of cheering him."