with her. Latterly, however, the
daughter remained as a fixture, and Mrs Mason received but an
occasional invitation. It may be inquired in what capacity Miss
Arabella Mason remained at the Hall; she was not a servant, for her
position in life was above that of a menial; neither was she received
altogether in the saloon, as she was of too humble a grade to mix with
gentry and nobility; she was, therefore, betwixt and between, a sort of
humble companion in the drawing-room, a cut above the housekeeper in the
still-room, a fetcher and carrier of the honourable spinster's wishes, a
sort of link between the aristocratic old dame and her male attendants,
towards whom she had a sort of old maidish aversion. However this
position might be found useful to her mistress, it must be admitted that
it was a most unfortunate position for a young, thoughtless, and very
pretty girl, moreover, who was naturally very lively, very smart in
repartee, and very fond of being admired.

As the Honourable Captain Delmar was very constant in his visits to his
aunt, it was but natural that he should pay some little attention to her
humble companion. By degrees the intimacy increased, and at last there
were reports in the servants' hall, that the captain and Miss Bella
Mason had been seen together in the evergreen walk; and as the captain's
visits were continually repeated during the space of two years so did
the scandal increase, and people became more ill-natured. It was now
seen that Miss Bella had been very often found in tears, and the old
butler and the older housekeeper shook their heads at each other like
responsive mandarins; the only person who was ignorant of the scandal
afloat was the old lady spinster herself.

I must now introduce another personage. The Honourable Captain Delmar
did not, of course, travel without his valet, and this important
personage had been selected out of the marine corps which had been
drafted into the frigate. Benjamin Keene, for such was his name, was
certainly endowed with several qualities which were indispensable in a
valet; he was very clean in his person, very respectful in his
deportment, and, after the sovereign of Great Britain, looked upon the
Honourable Captain Delmar as the greatest person in the world.
Moreover, Benjamin Keene, although only a private marine was, without
exception, one of the handsomest men that ever was seen and being
equally as well made and well drilled as he was hands