you do not think that I
am persecuting you in making my way over here."

"Oh, no; not persecuting!" Lucy when she heard the sound of what she
herself had said, was angry with herself, feeling that she had almost
declared him guilty of some wrong in having come thither. "Of course
I am glad to see you," she added, "for papa's sake, but I'm afraid--"

"Afraid of what, Miss Dormer?"

She looked him full in the face as she answered him, collecting her
courage to make the declaration which seemed to be necessary. "My
Aunt Emmeline does not want you to come."

"Why should she not want me?"

"That I cannot tell. Perhaps if I did know I should not tell. But
it is so. You called at Queen's Gate, and I know that you were not
admitted, though I was at home. Of course, Aunt Emmeline has a right
to choose who shall come. It is not as though I had a house of my
own."

"But Sir Thomas asked me in."

"Then you had better go in. After what Aunt Emmeline said, I do not
think that you ought to remain with me."

"Your uncle knows I am with you," said Hamel. Then they walked on
towards the house together in silence for a while. "Do you mean to
say," he continued, "that because your aunt objects you are never to
see me again?"

"I hope I shall see you again. You were papa's friend, and I should
be so very sorry not to see you again."

"I suppose," he said, slowly, "I can never be more than your papa's
friend."

"You are mine also."

"I would be more than that." Then he paused as if waiting for a
reply, but she of course had none to make. "I would be so much more
than that, Lucy." Still she had no answer to give him. But there
comes a time when no answer is as excellent eloquence as any words
that can be spoken. Hamel, who had probably not thought much of this,
was nevertheless at once informed by his instincts that it was so.
"Oh, Lucy," he said, "if you can love me say so."

"Mr. Hamel," she whispered.

"Lucy."

"Mr. Hamel, I told you about Aunt Emmeline. She will not allow it. I
ought not to have let you speak to me like this, while I am staying
here."

"But your uncle knows I am with you."

"My aunt does not know. We must go to the house. She expressly
desired that I would not speak to you."

"And you will obey her--always?"

"No; not always. I did not say that I should obey her always. Some
day, perhaps, I shall do as I think fit myself."

"And then you will speak to me?"

"Then I will speak to you," she sa