yself are desirous of the Honour of your
Acquaintance, and shall be happy if you will do use the
Pleasure of coming to partake of Dinner at Three o'Clock
on Tuesday, the 13th instant.

"I remain,
"Yours to command,
"DELIA TREFORTH."

Aurelia carried the invitation to her oracle.

"My cousins are willing to make your acquaintance?" said he. "That is
well. Jumbo shall escort you home in the evening."

"Thank you, sir, but must I accept the invitation?"

"It could not be declined without incivility. Moreover, the Mistresses
Treforth are highly respected, and your father and sister will certainly
think it well for you to have female friends."

"Do you think those ladies could ever be my friends, sir?" she asked,
with an intonation that made him reply, with a sound of amusement.

"I am no judge in such matters, but they are ladies connected and
esteemed, who might befriend and counsel you in case of need, and at any
rate, it is much more suitable that you should be on terms of friendly
intercourse with them. I am heartily glad they have shown you this
attention."

"I do not mean to be ungrateful, sir."

"And I think you have disproved that

Crabbed age and youth
Cannot live together."

"If they were only like you, sir!"

"What would they say to that?" he said with the slight laugh that had
begun to enliven his voice. "I suppose your charges are not included in
the invitation?"

"No; but Molly can take care of them, if my Lady will not object to my
leaving them."

"She cannot reasonably do so."

"And, sir, shall I be permitted to come home in time for you to receive
me?"

"I fear I must forego that pleasure. The ladies will insist on cards and
supper. Jumbo shall come for you at nine o'clock."

Aurelia submitted, and tripped down arrayed in the dress that recalled
the fete at Carminster, except that only a little powder was sprinkled
on her temples. The little girls jumped round her in admiring ecstasy,
and, under Molly's charge, escorted her to the garden gate, and hovered
outside to see her admitted, while she knocked timidly at the door, in
the bashful alarm of making her first independent visit.

The loutish man ushered her into a small close room, containing a cat,
a little spaniel, a green parrot, a spinning-wheel, and an embroidery
frame. There wer