"Oh, no!" said Aurelia, inconsistently; "Mr. Belamour is quite
incapable of doing anything wrong by me. I cannot let you have such
shocking notions. He told me I must be patient and trust him, though
I should meet with much that was strange and inexplicable."
"This is trusting him much too far. They are playing on your
inexperience, I am sure. If you were not a mere child, you would
see what a shocking situation this is."
"I wish I had not told you," said Aurelia, tears rushing into her
eyes. "I ought not! He bade me be cautious how I talked, and you
have made me quite forget!"
"Did he so? Then it is evident that he fears disclosure! Something
must be done. Why not write to our father?"
"I could not! He would call it a silly fancy."
"And it might embroil him with my Lady," added Harriet. "We must
devise another mode."
"You will not--must not tell Mr. Arden," exclaimed Aurelia,
peremptorily.
"Never fear! He heeds nothing more sublunary than the course of the
planets. But I have it. His device will serve the purpose. Do you
remember Eugene confounding him with Friar Bacon because he was said
to light a candle without flint or steel? It was true. When he was
a bachelor he always lit his own candle and fire, and he always
carries the means.
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