to guess at her plans only produces harassing surmises and alarms."

"Do you think, sir, she can mean to take me away?"

"I suppose that would be emancipation to you, my poor child."

"I should dance to find myself going home," said Aurelia, "yet how
could I bear to leave my little girls, or you, sir. Oh! if you could
only live at the Great House, at home, I should be quite happy."

"Then you would not willingly abandon the recluse?"

"Indeed," she said with a quivering in her voice, "I cannot endure the
notion. You have been so kind and good to me, sir, and I do so enjoy
coming to you. And you would be all alone again with Jumbo! Oh sir,
could you not drive down if all the coach windows were close shut up?
You would have my papa to talk to!"

"And what would your papa say to having a miserable old hermit
inflicted on him?"

"He would be only too glad."

No, no, my gentle friend, there are other reasons. I could not make
my abode in Lady Belamour's house, while in that of my nephew, my
natural home, I have a right to drag out what remains of the existence
of mine. Nay, are you weeping, my sweet child? That must not be;
your young life must take no darkness from mine. Even should Lady
Belamour's arbitrary caprice bear you off without another meeting,
remember that you have given me many more happy hours than I ever