"Rather say, Luciè, it was concealed to suit the wishes of your lover;
but is it honorable in him to seek your affections clandestinely? to
bind you by promises, which are unsanctioned by your friends?"

"You are unjust to him," said Luciè, eagerly; "you suspect him of a
meanness, which he could never practice. I only am to blame for whatever
is wrong and secret. He has never wished to disguise his attachment, and
you were not slow to detect and regret it; he was encouraged by my dear
aunt Rossville, but circumstances separated us, and I scarcely dared
hope that we should ever meet again"--

"But you _did_ meet," interrupted Mad. de la Tour, "and why all this
mystery and reserve?"

"I dreaded my uncle's anger," said Luciè: "and persuaded Stanhope,
against his inclination, to leave me without any explanation to my
guardian, till the time arrives when I shall be at liberty to choose for
myself; and till then, I have refused to enter into any
engagements,--except those which my heart has long since made, and which
nothing ever can dissolve."

"To me, at least, Luciè, you might have confided this; you would not
have found me arbitrary or tyrannical, and methinks, the advice of an
experienced friend would not have been amiss on a subject of such
importance."

"I well know your lenity and affection, dear aunt," returned Luciè; "but
I was most unwilling to involve you in my difficulties, and expose you
to my uncle's displeasure; in time, all would have been known to you; I
should have taken no important step without your advice; and why should