Whether your innocence be feigned or not, however, I cannot
permit you to go out of my custody until the foolish youth or yourself
be properly bestowed in marriage elsewhere. Meantime, you will remain
where I place you, and exactly fulfil my commands. Remember that any
attempt to communicate with any person outside the house will be
followed by your Father's immediate dismissal."
"May I not let him know that I am safe?"
"Certainly not; I will see to your father."
It was a period when great ladies did not scruple to scold at the top
of their voices, and sometimes proceed to blows, but Lady Belamour
never raised her low silvery tones, and thus increased the awfulness
of her wrath and the impressiveness of her determination. Face to
face with her, there were few who did not cower under her displeasure;
and poor Aurelia, resolute to endure for her father's sake, could only
promise implicit obedience.
She only guessed when the entered London by the louder rumbling, and
for one moment the coach paused as a horse was reined up near it, and
with plumed hat in hand the rider bent forward to the window, exclaiming,
"Successful, by all that is lovely! Captured, by Jove!"
"You shall hear all another time," said lady Belamour. "Let us go on
now."
They did so, but the horseman continued to flash across the windows,
and when the coach, after considerable delay, had entered the walled
court, rumbled over the pavement, and stopped before a closed door, he
was still there.
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