The dinner was ordered at one, and at three Aurelia would ride home, while Mr. and Mrs. Arden went on about twelve miles to the house of a great grazier, brother to the Alderman’s wife, where they had been invited to make their next stage, and spend the next day, Sunday, when Harriet reckoned on picking up information about cattle, if she were not actually presented with a cow or a calf.  They went out and walked a little about the town, where presently they met Mrs. Hunter.  Aurelia met her puzzled stare with a curtsey, and she shouted in her hearty tone “Miss Delavie!—­I mean Mrs. Belamour!  Who would have thought of seeing you here!”

“I am here to meet my sister—­Mrs. Arden.  Let me—­let me present you,” said Aurelia in obedience to an imperious sign from her sister, going through the form for the first time, while Harriet volubly declared her happiness in making Mrs. Hunter’s acquaintance, and explained how they were on their way to take possession of Mr. Arden’s rectory of Rundell Canonicorum, the words rolling out of her mouth with magnificent emphasis.  “I congratulate you, ma’am,” said Mrs. Hunter, cordially, “and you too, my dear,” she added, turning to Aurelia.  “I would have been out long ago to call on you—­a sort of relation as you are now, as I may say—­but it was kept all so mum, one never knew the time to drink your health; and my Cousins Treforth wouldn’t so much as give me a hint.  But la! says I, why should you talk about artfulness?  I’m right glad poor Mr. Amyas should find a sprightly young lady to cure him of his mopishness.  Never mind them, my dear, if they do look sour on you.  I’ll come over one of these days and talk to them.  Now, I must have you come in to take your dinner with us.  The Doctor will be right pleased to find you.  I’ll take no excuse.  I thank Heaven I’m always ready whoever may drop in.  There’s spring chicken and sparrow-grass.”

However, on hearing their dinner was ordered at the inn, the good lady was satisfied that to dine with her was impossible; but she insisted on their coming in to partake of wine and cake in her best parlour.

This, however, was a little more than Mr. Arden could endure, he made an excuse about seeing to the horse, and escaped; while Mrs. Hunter led the two sisters to her closely shut-up parlour, wainscoted, and hung with two staring simpering portraits of herself and her husband, clean as soap could make it, but smelling like a long closed box.  She went to a cupboard in the wall, and brought out a silver salver, a rich cake, glasses and wine, and pouring out the wine, touched the glass with her lips, as she wished health and happiness to the two brides before her.

“We shall soon have another wedding in the family, if report speaks true,” she added.  “They say—­but you should be the best informed, Madam Belamour—­

“We hear nothing of the matter, ma’am,” said Aurelia.

“That’s odd, since Mr. Belamour is young Sir Amyas’s guardian; and they cannot well pass him over now he has begun life again as it were,” laughed Mrs. Hunter. “’Tis said that my Lady is resolved the wedding shall be within six weeks.”