If this had been her first plunge from home,
when Jumbo's violin had so scared her, such a place as this would have
almost killed her; but the peace that had come to her in Sedhurst
Church lingered still round her, and as she climbed up into the lofty
bed the verse sang in her ears "Love is strong as death." Whether
Love Divine or human she did not ask herself, but with the sense of
soothing upon her, she slept--and slept as a seventeen-years'-old
frame will sleep after having been thirty-six hours awake and afoot.
When she awoke it was with the sense of some one being in the room.
"O gemini!" she heard, and starting up, only just avoiding the knob,
she saw Mrs. Loveday's well-preserved brunette face gazing at her.
"Your servant, ma'am," she said. "You'll excuse me if I speak with
you here, for I must be back by the time my Lady's bell rings."
"Is it very late?" said Aurelia, taking from under her pillow her
watch, which had stopped long ago.
"Nigh upon ten o'clock," said Loveday. "I must not stay, but it is my
Lady's wish that you should have all that is comformable, and you'll
let me know how Madge behaves herself."
"Is there any news from Bowstead?" was all Aurelia could at first
demand.
"Not yet; but bless you, my dear young lady, you had best put all
that matter out of your head for ever and a day.
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