Hark, some one was coming! She darted out, down the
steps, along the path like a wild bird from a cage.
CHAPTER XXIV. THE WANDERER.
Widowed wife and wedded maid,
Betrothed, betrayer, and betrayed.--SCOTT.
Aurelia's first halt was in a moss-grown summer-house at the end of
the garden, where she ventured to sit down to put on her stout leather
shoes. The children's toys, a ball and a set of ninepins lay on the
floor! How many ages ago was it that she had made that sarcastic
reply to Letty?--perhaps her last!
A nightingale, close overhead, burst into a peal of song, repeating
his one favourite note, which seemed to her to cry out "Although my
heart is broke, broke, broke, broke." The tears rushed into her
eyes, but at a noise as of opening doors or windows at the house,
terror mastered her again, and she hurried on to hide herself from
the dawning light, which was beginning to increase, as she crossed
the park, on turf dank with Maydew, and plunged deep into the thick
woods beyond, causing many a twittering cry of wondering birds.
Day had fully come, and slanting golden beams were shining through
the tender green foliage, and illuminating the boles of the trees,
ere she was forced by failing strength again to pause and sit on a
faggot, while gathering breath and considering where she should go.
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