“He should learn at last the deep measure of a woman’s scorn, aunt!”
“Yes, my love. And then?”
“Then, aunt, why ... I should at least be satisfied.”
“I wonder, child!... So here is why you will to Sussex?”
“And to find thee a husband, aunt.”
“Tush for that, thou sly minx! But to watch thee weaving webs for an unwary he, casting thy spells, luring the poor wretch to distraction and destruction.... Hum!”
“Then we’ll start at the earliest moment, dear aunt. Let it be thought we are for your house in Surrey or Kent—or anywhere you will. But once in Sussex we must forget your rank; you must be a superior inferior person, aunt, or better—a decayed gentlewoman.”
“Horrors—no, Herminia! I refuse to be anything so infinite abhorrent. Lud! I should sound like a corpse!”
“Howbeit thou wilt always be my little, loved, clever aunt.”