"Very well, madam," said Loveday, wiping her eyes. "I only hope it
will not be the worse for you in the end, and that you will not wish
you had listened to poor Loveday's advice."
"I can never wish to have done what I know to be a great sin," said
Aurelia gravely.
"Ah! you little know!" said Loveday, shaking her head sadly and
ominously.
Something brought to Aurelia's lips what she had been teaching the
children last Sunday, and she answered,
"My God, in Whom I have trusted, is able to deliver me out of the
mouth of lions, and He will deliver me out of thy hand."
"Oh! if ever there were one whom He should deliver!" broke out
Loveday, and again she went away weeping bitterly.
Aurelia could not guess what the danger the woman threatened could
be; so many had been mentioned as possible. A forcible marriage,
incarceration in some lonely country place, a vague threat of being
taken beyond seas to the plantation--all these had been mentioned;
but she was far more afraid of Colonel Mar forcing his way in and
carrying her off, and this kept her constantly in a state of nervous
watchfulness, always listening by day and hardly able to sleep by
night.
Once she had a terrible alarm, on a Sunday. Letty came rushing to
her, declaring that Jumbo, dear Jumbo, and a gentleman were in the
front court.
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