rtraits of herself and her husband, clean as
soap could make it, but smelling like a long closed box. She went to
a cupboard in the wall, and brought out a silver salver, a rich cake,
glasses and wine, and pouring out the wine, touched the glass with her
lips, as she wished health and happiness to the two brides before her.

"We shall soon have another wedding in the family, if report speaks
true," she added. "They say--but you should be the best informed, Madam
Belamour--

"We hear nothing of the matter, ma'am," said Aurelia.

"That's odd, since Mr. Belamour is young Sir Amyas's guardian; and
they cannot well pass him over now he has begun life again as it were,"
laughed Mrs. Hunter. "'Tis said that my Lady is resolved the wedding
shall be within six weeks."

"There are two words to that question," said Harriet, oracularly; "I
know from good authority that young Sir Amyas is determined against the
match."

"But is it true, ma'am," cried Mrs. Hunter, eagerly, "that my Lady and
the Countess of Aresfield met at Bath, and that my Lady is to have 3,000
pounds down to pay off her debts before her husband comes home, the day
her son is married to Lady Arabella?"

"Every word of it is true, ma'am," said Harriet, importantly.

"Well now, that folk should sell their own flesh and blood!"

"How have you heard it, sister Harriet?" asked Aurelia.

"From a sure hand, my love. No other than Mrs. Dove. She is wife to my
Lady's coachman," explained Mrs. Arden to her hostess, "and nurse to the
two children it is her pleasure to keep with her."

"Dear good Nurse dove!" cried Aurelia, "did she come to see you?"

"Yes, that did she! So I have it from the fountain-head, as I may say,
that the poor young gentleman's hand and heart are to be made over
without his will, that so his mother may not have such a schedule of
debts wherewith to face her husband on his return!"

"Her jewels have been all paste long ago, I know very well," said Mrs.
Hunter, not to be outdone; "though, would you believe it, Doctor Hunter
is like all the men, and will believe nothing against her! But this
beats all the rest! Why, I have it from my maid, who is sister to one of
the servants at the boarding-school in Queen Square, whither they have
sent the Lady Belle, that she is a regular little shrew. She flew at one
of the young ladies like a wild cat, because she did not yield place to
her at once, and scratched her cheeks till the blood ran down, and to