“There is no help for it then,” said Betty.

“And if it be for the child’s advantage, we need not make our moan,” said her father. “’Tis like losing the daylight out of our house, but we must not stand in the way of her good.”

“If I were only sure it is for her good!”

“Why, child, there’s scarce a wench in the county who would not go down on her knees for such a chance.  See what Madam Duckworth would say to it for Miss Peggy!”

Betty said no more.  The result of her cogitations had been that since Aurelia must be yielded for the sake of her father and Eugene, it was better not to disturb him with fears, which would only anger him at the moment and disquiet him afterwards.  She was likewise reassured by Mrs. Dove’s going with her, since that good woman had been nurse to the little Belamour cousins now deceased, and was well known as an excellent and trustworthy person, so that, if she were going to act in the same capacity to my Lady’s second family, Aurelia would have a friend at hand.  So the Major cheated his grief by greeting the church-goers with the hilarious announcement—­

“Here’s great news!  What says my little Aura to going London to my Lady’s house.”

“O Sir! are you about to take us.”

“Not I!  My Lady wants pretty young maidens, not battered old soldiers.”

“Nor my sisters?  O then, if you please, Sir, I would rather not go!”

“Silly children cannot choose!  No, no, Aura, you must go out and see the world, and come back to us such a belle that your poor old father will scarce know you.”

“I do not wish to be a belle,” said the girl.  “O Sir, let me stay with you and sister.”

“Do not be so foolish, Aura,” put in Harriet.  “It will be the making of you.  I wish I had the offer.”

“O Harriet, could not you go instead?”

“No, Aurelia,” said Betty.  “There is no choice, and you must be a good girl and not vex my father.”

The gravity of her eldest sister convinced Aurelia that entreaties would be vain, and there was soon a general outburst of assurances that she would see all that was delightful in London, the lions in the Tower, the new St. Paul’s, the monuments, Ranelagh, the court ladies, may be, the King and Queen themselves; until she began to feel exhilarated and pleased at the prospect and the distinction.

Then came Monday and the bustle of preparing her wardrobe.  The main body of it was to be sent in the carrier’s waggon, for she was to ride on a pillion behind Mr. Dove, and could only take a valise upon a groom’s horse.  There was no small excitement in the arrangement, and in the farewells to the neighbours, who all agreed with Harriet in congratulating the girl on her promotion.  Betty did her part with all her might, washed lace, and trimmed sleeves, and made tuckers, giving little toilette counsels, while her heart ached sorely all the time.