r it. How
do you know that it is not some vile stratagem? It might even be the
blackamoor!"

"No, no, Harriet! I know better than that. It is quite impossible.
Besides, I am sure of this--that the hands that wedded me are the same
hands that caress me," she added, with another blushing effort, "strong
but delicate hands, rather hard inside, as with the bridle. I noticed it
because once I thought his hands soft with doing nothing and being shut
up."

"That convinces me the more, then, there is some strange imposition
practised upon you," said Harriet, anxiously.

"Oh, no!" said Aurelia, inconsistently; "Mr. Belamour is quite incapable
of doing anything wrong by me. I cannot let you have such shocking
notions. He told me I must be patient and trust him, though I should
meet with much that was strange and inexplicable."

"This is trusting him much too far. They are playing on your
inexperience, I am sure. If you were not a mere child, you would see
what a shocking situation this is."

"I wish I had not told you," said Aurelia, tears rushing into her eyes.
"I ought not! He bade me be cautious how I talked, and you have made me
quite forget!"

"Did he so? Then it is evident that he fears disclosure! Something must
be done. Why not write to our father?"

"I could not! He would call it a silly fancy."

"And it might embroil him with my Lady," added Harriet. "We must devise
another mode."

"You will not--must not tell Mr. Arden," exclaimed Aurelia,
peremptorily.

"Never fear! He heeds nothing more sublunary than the course of the
planets. But I have it. His device will serve the purpose. Do you
remember Eugene confounding him with Friar Bacon because he was said
to light a candle without flint or steel? It was true. When he was a
bachelor he always lit his own candle and fire, and he always carries
the means. I was frighted the first time he showed me, but now I can do
it as well as he. See," she said, opening a case, "a drop of this spirit
upon this prepared cotton;" and as a bright flame sprang up and made
Aurelia start, she laughed and applied a taper to it. "There, one
such flash would be quite enough to prove to you whether there be any
deception practised on you."

"I could never do it! Light is agony to Mr. Belamour, and what would he
think?"

"He would take it for lightning, which I suppose he cannot keep out."

"One flash did come through everything last summer, but I was not
looking towards him."