had heard so much.  It seemed incredible that Lady Belamour could have been mother to contemporaries of Betty, for she looked younger than Betty herself.  Her symmetry and carriage were admirable, and well shown by the light blue habit laced richly and embroidered with silver.  A small round hat with a cluster of white ostrich feathers was placed among the slightly frizzed and powdered masses of mouse-coloured hair, surmounting a long ivory neck, whose graceful turn, the theme of many a sonnet, was not concealed by the masculine collar of the habit.  The exquisite oval contour of the cheek, the delicate ear, and Grecian profile were as perfect in moulding as when she had been Sir Jovian’s bride, and so were the porcelain blue of the eyes, the pencilled arches of eyebrow, and the curve of the lips, while even her complexion retained its smooth texture, and tints of the lily and rose.  Often as Aurelia had heard of her beauty, its splendour dazzled and astonished her, even in this travelling dress.

Archer, who was about a year older than his sisters, was more like Amoret than the other two, with azure eyes, golden curls, and a plump rosy face, full of fun and mischief.  Tired of the confinement of the coach, he was rushing round the house with Amoret, opening the doors and looking into the rooms.  The other little sisters remained beside Aurelia till their mother said, pointing to Fay:  “That child seems to mean to eat me with her eyes.  Let all the children be with Nurse Dove, Mrs. Aylward.  Miss Delavie will do me the pleasure of supping with me at seven.  Present my compliments to Mr. Belamour, and let him know that I will be with him at eight o’clock on particular business.”  Then turning to the two children, she asked their names, and was answered by each distinctly, with the orthodox “madam” at the end.

“You are improved, little ones,” she said:  “Did Cousin Aurelia teach you?”

“And Mammy Rolfe,” said constant Fay.

“She must teach you next not to stare,” said Lady Belamour.  “I intend to take one to be a companion to my boy, in the country.  When I saw them before, they were rustic little monsters; but they are less unpresentable now.  Call your sister, children.”  And, as the two left the room, she continued:  “Which do you recommend, cousin?”

“Fidelia is the most reasonable, madam,” said Aurelia.

“But not the prettiest, I trust.  She is too like her father, with those dark brows, and her eyes have a look deep enough to frighten one.  They will frighten away the men, if she do not grow out of it.”

Here the door burst open, and, without any preliminary bow, Master Archer flew in, crying out “Mamma, mamma, we must stay here.  The galleries are so long, and it is such a place for whoop-hide!”

His sisters were following his bad example, and rushing in with equal want of ceremony, but though their mother held the boy unchecked on her knee, Aurelia saw how she could frown.  “You forget yourselves,” she said.