And now, as
his sister had cut short what he had to say, he had written her a
billet. And Loveday held out a perfumed letter.
Aurelia's eyes flashed, and she drew herself up: "You forget, Loveday,
I promised to receive no letters!"
"Bless me, ma'am, they, that are treated as my lady treats you, are
not bound to be so particular as that."
"O fie, Loveday," said Aurelia earnestly, "you have been so kind, that
I thought you would be faithful. This is not being faithful to your
lady, nor to me."
"It is only from my wish to serve you, ma'am," said Loveday in her
fawning voice. "How can I bear to see a beautiful young lady like
you, that ought to be the star of all the court, mewed up here for
the sake of a young giddy pate like his Honour, when there's one of
the first gentlemen in the land ready to be at your feet?"
"For shame! for shame!" exclaimed Aurelia, crimson already. "You
know I am married."
"And you will not take the letter, nor see what the poor gentleman
means? May be he wants to reconcile you with my lady, and he has
power with her."
Aurelia took the letter, and, strong paper though it was, tore it
across and across till it was all in fragments, no bigger than daisy
flowers. "There," she said, "you may tell him what I have done to
his letter.
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