"
Loveday stared for a minute, then exclaimed, "You are in the right, my
dear lady. Oh, I am a wretch--a wretch--" and she went away sobbing.
Aurelia hoped the matter was ended. It had given her a terrible
feeling of insecurity, but she found to her relief that Madge was
really more trustworthy than Loveday. She overheard from the court
a conversation at the back door in which Madge was strenuously
refusing admission to some one who was both threatening and bribing
her, all in vain; but she was only beginning to breathe freely when
Loveday brought, not another letter, but what was less easy to stop,
a personal message from "that poor gentleman."
"Loveday, after what you said yesterday, how can you be so--wicked?"
said Aurelia.
"Indeed, miss, 'tis only as your true well-wisher."
Aurelia turned away to leave the room.
"Yes, it is, ma'am! On my bended knees I will swear it," cried
Loveday, throwing herself on them and catching her dress. "It is
because I know my lady has worse in store for you!"
"Nothing can be worse than wrong-doing," said Aurelia.
"Ah! you don't know. Now, listen, one moment. I would not--indeed
I would not--if I did not know that he meant true and honourable--
as he does, indeed he does. He is madder after you then ever he was
for my lady, for he says you have all her beauty, and freshness and
simplicity besides.
Pages:
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378