e waist, while she kicked and
screamed in vain. She was like an angry cat in his arms. "Be quiet,
Belle," he said, backing into the sitting-room. "Let Loveday compose
your dress. Recover your senses and I shall take you home: I wish it was
to the whipping you deserve."

He thrust her in, waved aside Loveday's excuses about her ladyship
not being denied, and stood with his back to the door as she bounced
shrieking against it from within.

"I fear this little devil has hurt you, madam," he said.

"Not at all, I thank you, sire." said Aurelia, though one side of her
face still tingled.

"She made at you like a little game-cock," he said. "I am glad I was in
time. I followed when I found she had slipped away from Lady Belamour's,
knowing that her curiosity is only equalled by her spite. By Jove, it is
well that her nails did not touch that angel face!"

Aurelia could only curtsey and thank him, hoping within herself that
Lady Belle would soon recover, and wondering how he had let himself in.
There was something in his manner of examining her with his eyes that
made her supremely uncomfortable. He uttered fashionable expletives
of admiration under his breath, and she turned aside in displeasure,
bending down to Fidelia. He went on, "You must be devilishly moped in
this dungeon of a place! Cannot we contrive something better?"

"Thank you, sir, I have no complaint to make. Permit me to see whether
the Lady Arabella is better."

"I advise you not. Those orbs are too soft and sparkling to be exposed
to her talons. 'Pon my honour, I pity young Belamour. But there is no
help for it, and such charms ought not to be wasted in solitude on his
account. These young lads are as fickle as the weather-cock, and have
half-a-dozen fancies in as many weeks. Come now, make me your friend,
and we will hit on some device for delivering the enchanted princess
from her durance vile."

"Thank you, sir, I promised Lady Belamour to make no attempt to escape."

At that moment out burst Lady Belle, shouting with laughter: "Ho! ho!
Have I caught you, brother, gallanting away with Miss? What will my lady
say? Pretty doings!"

She had no time for more. Her brother fiercely laid hold of her, and
bore her away with a peremptory violence that she could not resist, and
only turning at the hall door to make one magnificent bow.

Loveday was obliged to follow, and the children were left clinging to
Aurelia and declaring that the dreadful young la