Up started the Major again as from the adjacent yew-walk a faint screaming arose.
"Good God!" exclaimed the Major. "'Tis a woman!"
"Nay sir, 'tis merely my aunt!"
"But madam—hark to her, she is in distress!"
"Nay sir, she doth but wail—'tis no matter!"
"'Tis desperate sound she makes, madam."
"But extreme ladylike, sir, Aunt Belinda is ever preposterously feminine and ladylike, sir. Her present woe arises perchance because she hath encountered a grub on her way hither or been routed by a beetle—the which last I do fervently hope."
This hope, however, was doomed to disappointment for very suddenly a lady appeared, a somewhat faded lady who, with dainty petticoats uplifted, tripped hastily towards them uttering small, wailing screams as she came.
"O Betty!" she cried. "Betty! O Elizabeth, child—a rat! O dear heart o' me, a great rat, child! That sat in the path, Betty, and looked at me, child—with a huge, great tail! O sweet heaven!"
"Looked at you with his tail, aunt?"