"That must fall to my share," said Mr. Wayland, pale and resolute.
"Come with me, Amyas, your young limbs will easily return before the
effect of the narcotic has passed, and I need fuller explanation."
Stillness than came on the Delavie party. The Major went up stairs,
and sat by Aurelia's bed gazing with eyes dazzled with tears at the
child he had so longed to see, and whom he found again in this strange
trance. A doctor came, and quite confirmed Mr. Wayland's opinion,
that the drug would not prove deleterious, provided the sleep was
not disturbed, and Betty continued her watch, after hearing what her
father knew of Mr. Belamour. She was greatly struck with the self-
devotion that had gone with open eyes into so dreadful a snare as a
madhouse of those days rather than miss the least chance of saving
Aurelia.
"If we go by perils dared, the uncle is the true knight-errant," said
she to her father. "I wonder which our child truly loves the best!"
"Betty!" said her father, scandalised.
"Ay, I know, Sir Amyas is a charming boy, but what a boy he is! And
she has barely spoken with him or seen him, whereas Mr. Belamour has
been kind to her for a whole twelvemonth. I know what I should do if
I were in her place. I would declare that I intended to be married
to the uncle, and would keep it!"
"He would think it base to put the question.
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