The first she had opened was Betty’s, telling her of her father’s illness, which was attributed in great part to the distress and perplexity caused by Lady Belamour’s proposal.  Had it not been for this indisposition, both father and sister would have come to judge for themselves before entertaining it for a moment; but since the journey was impossible, he could only desire Betty to assure her sister that no constraint should be put on her, and that if she felt the least repugnance to the match, she need not consider her obliged to submit.  More followed about the religious duty of full consideration and prayer before deciding on what would fix her destiny for life, but all was so confusing to the girl, entirely unprepared as she was, that after hastily glancing on in search of an explanation which she failed to find, she laid it aside, and opened the other letter.  It began imperially

  “MY COUSIN,

“No doubt you are already informed of the Honour that has been done you by the Proposal that Mr. Amyas Belamour has made to your Father for your Hand.  It is no slight Compliment to a young Maid like you, from one of the most noted Wits about Town in the last Reign; and you will no doubt shew the Good Sense to esteem yourself fortunate beyond all reasonable Expectations or Deserts of your own, as well as to act for the Advantage of your Family.  Be assured that I shall permit no foolish Flightiness nor Reluctance to interfere with you true Welfare.  I say this, because, as you well know, your Father’s Affection is strong and blind, and you might easily draw him into a Resistance which could but damage both his Health and his Prospects.  On receiving the tidings of your Marriage, I promise to settle on him the Manor House with an Annuity of Three hundred Pounds; but if he should support you in any foolish Refusal, I shall be obliged to inform him that I can dispense with his Services; therefore you will do wisely to abstain from any childish expressions of Distaste.

“On you Marriage, you will of course have the Enjoyment of the Pin Money with which Mr. Belamour will liberally endow you, and be treated in all Respects as a Married Lady.  My Daughters shall be sent to School, unless you wish to make them your Companions a little longer.  Expecting to hear from you that you are fully sensible to the good Fortune and the Obligations you are under to me,
     “I remain
           “Yours &c. 
                “URANIA BELAMOUR.”

It was with a gasp of relief that Aurelia discovered what was required of her.  “Marry Mr. Belamour?  Is that all?  Then why should they all think I should so much dislike it, my Lady, and my papa, and sister and all?  Nobody ever was so good to me, and maybe I could make him a little happier, though it is not what I expected of him, to forget his Mary!  Oh, no, I am not afraid; I might have been afraid six months ago, but now it is a different thing.  I am not so foolish!  And my dear