CHAPTER XXXI.
BEING A SHORT HISTORY OF THE GREAT BATTLE OF BELMONT THAT LASTED FOR SO MANY DAYS, WHEREIN THE BELLIGERENTS SHOWED SO MUCH CONSTANCY AND VALOUR, AND SOMETIMES ONE SIDE AND SOMETIMES T'OTHER WAS VICTORIOUS.
So jolly old General Chattesworth was away to Scarborough, and matters went by no means pleasantly at Belmont; for there was strife between the ladies.

Dangerfield--cunning fellow--went first to Aunt Becky with his proposal; and Aunt Becky liked it--determined it should prosper, and took up and conducted the case with all her intimidating energy and ferocity.

But Gertrude's character had begun to show itself of late in new and marvellous lights, and she fought her aunt with cool, but invincible courage; and why should she marry, and above all, why marry that horrid, grim old gentleman, Mr.Dangerfield.No, she had money enough of her own to walk through life in maiden meditation, fancy free, without being beholden to anybody for a sixpence.

Why, Aunt Rebecca herself had never married, and was she not all the happier of her freedom?
Aunt Rebecca tried before the general went away, to inflame and stir him up upon the subject.

But he had no capacity for coercion.