"Suspicious Betty! You will soon be satisfied," said the Major in
high glee. "Did not Dove meet me at the front door, and Mrs. Dove
waylay me in the hall to tell me that the child looked blooming and
joyous, and in favour with all, gentle and simple? Come her, Eugene,
ay, and Harriet and Arden too. Let us hear what my little maid says
for herself. For look here!" and he held aloft Aurelia's packet, at
sight of which Eugene capered high, and all followed into the parlour.

Mr. Arden was constantly about the house. There was no doubt that he
would soon be preferred to a Chapter living in Buckinghamshire, and
he had thus been emboldened to speak out his wishes. It would have
been quite beneath the dignity of a young lady of Miss Harriet's
sensibility to have consented, and she was in the full swing of her
game at coyness and reluctance, daily vowing that nothing should
induce her to resign her liberty, and that she should be frightened
out of her life by Mr. Arden's experiments; while her father had
cordially received the minor Canon's proposals, and already treated
him as one of the family. Simpering had been such a fattening
process that Harriet was beginning to resume more of her good looks
than had ever been brought back by Maydew.

"Open the letter, Betty. Thanks, Arden," as the minor Canon began to
pull off his boots, "only take care of my knee. My Lady has brought
down her little boy, and one of Aurelia's pupils; I declare they are
a perfect pair of Loves. What are you fumbling at, Betty?"

"The seal, sir, it is a pity to break it," said Betty, producing her
scissors from one of her capacious pockets. "It is an antique, is it
not, Mr. Arden?"