t her
Ladyship. If you sign it now, and give it up honourable, she will send
Mr. Dove home with you, and there you'll be as if nothing had been
amiss, no one knowing nothing about it; but if you persist it will not
make the marriage a bit more true, and you will only be kept moped up in
this dismal place till his Honour is married, and there's no saying what
worse my Lady may do to you."

Another night of rats came up before Aurelia's imagination in contrast
with the tender welcome at home; but the white face and the tones that
had exclaimed, "Madam, what are you doing to my wife?" arose and forbade
her. She would not fail him. So she said firmly once more, "No, Mrs.
Loveday, I cannot. I do not know what lawyers may say, but I feel myself
bound to Sir Amyas, and I will not break my vow--God helping me," she
added under breath.

"You must write it to her ladyship then. She will never take such a
message through me. Here is paper and pen that I brought, in hopes that
you would be wise and submit for your honoured father's sake."

"My father cannot be persecuted for what he has nothing to do with,"
said Aurelia, with the gentle dignity that had grown on her since her
troubles. And taking the pen, she wrote her simple refusal, signing it
Aurelia Belamour.

"As you please, ma'am," said Mrs. Loveday, "but I have my Lady's orders
to bring this paper every day till you sign it, and it would be better
for you if you would do it at once."

Aurelia only shook her head, and asked if Mrs. Loveday had seen that she
had finished sorting the shells. Yes; and as she was now dressed they
went down together to the sitting-room. The shutters were still closed,
Madge would not put a hand to the room except on the compulsion, and
Aurelia's enemies had left evidence of their work; not only was the
odour of the room like that of a barn, but the paper bags had in some
cases been bitten through, and the shells scattered about, and of the
loaf and butter which Aurelia had left on a high shelf in the cupboard
nothing remained but a few fragments.

Loveday was very much shocked, all the more when Aurelia quietly said
she should not mind it so much if the rats would only stay down stairs,
and not run over her in bed.

"Yet you will not sign the paper."

"I cannot," again said Aurelia.

"My stars, I never could abear rats! Why they fly at one's throat
sometimes!"

"I hope God will take care of me," said Aurelia, in a trembling voice.
"H