have been composed, but the young man was fiery and hot tempered, and
would neither retract nor apologise; and Mr. Belamour had been stung
in his tenderest feeling. They fought with pistols, an innovation
that, as you know, my father hates, as far more deadly and unskilful
than the noble practice of fencing; and the result was that Mr.
Sedhurst was shot dead, and Mr. Belamour received a severe wound in the
head. The poor young lady, being always of a delicate constitution,
fell into fits on hearing the news, an died in a few weeks. The
unfortunate Mr. Belamour survives, but whether from injury to the
brain, or from grief and remorse, he has never been able to endure
either light or company, but has remained ever since in utter
darkness and seclusion."

"Utter darkness! How dreadful!" cried Aurelia, shuddering.

"How long has this been, sister?" inquired Harriet.

"About nine years," said Betty. "The lamentable affair took place just
before Sir Jovian's death, and the shock may have hastened it, for he
had long been in a languishing state. It was the more unfortunate,
since he had made Mr. Belamour sole personal guardian to his only
surviving son, and appointed him, together with my father and another
gentleman, trustee for the Belamour property; and there has been much
difficulty in consequence of his being unable to act, or to do more
than give his signature."

"Ah! sister, I wish you had not told me," said Aurelia. "I shall dream
of the unfortunate gentleman all night. Nine years of utter darkness!"

"We know who is still child enough to hate darkness," said Harriet.