Sister, it was that woman,
I remember now, I was not quite sound asleep, but I had no power to
move or cry out, and the woman was snipping and Loveday crying."
"Vile creature!" burst out Betty.
"My hair will grow!" said Aurelia; "but I had so guarded my wedding-
ring--and what will he, Sir Amyas, think?"
Their voices were at this moment heard, and in another second Aurelia
was held against her father's breast, as in broken words he sobbed out
thanks for her restoration, and implored her pardon for having trusted
her out of his care.
"Oh! sir, do not speak so! Dear papa, I have tried hard to do you no
harm, and to behave well. Please, sir, give me your blessing."
"God bless you indeed, my child. He has blessed you in guarding you as
your innocence deserved, though I did not. Ah! others are impatient.
The poor old father comes second now."
After a few minutes spent in repairing the disorder of her dress, and
her hands in those of her father and little brother, she was led to
the outer room where in the twilight there was a rapturous rush, an
embrace, a fondling of the hand in the manner more familiar to her
than the figure from before whom it proceeded. She only said in her
gentle plaintive tone, "Oh, sir, it was not my fault. They took
away your rings.
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