e, in every respect
worthy of your choice!"

"Those wishes were inconsistent with my duty," returned Lucie; "and that
love I could never recompense! Dearest aunt," she added, and the tears
again filled her eyes, "forgive me in this one instance; it is the only
thought of my heart, which has been concealed from you; and, believe me,
_this_ was concealed, only to save yourself and me from reproaches,
which, were I now mistress of my actions, I should not fear to meet."

"Rather say, Lucie, it was concealed to suit the wishes of your lover;
but is it honorable in him to seek your affections clandestinely? to
bind you by promises, which are unsanctioned by your friends?"

"You are unjust to him," said Lucie, eagerly; "you suspect him of a
meanness, which he could never practice. I only am to blame for whatever
is wrong and secret. He has never wished to disguise his attachment, and
you were not slow to detect and regret it; he was encouraged by my dear
aunt Rossville, but circumstances separated us, and I scarcely dared
hope that we should ever meet again"--

"But you _did_ meet," interrupted Mad. de la Tour, "and why all this
mystery and reserve?"

"I dreaded my uncle's anger," said Lucie: "and persuaded Stanhope,
against his inclination, to leave me without any explanation to my
guardian, till the time arrives when I shall be at liberty to choose for
myself; and till then, I have refused to enter into any
engagements,--except those which my heart has long since made, and which
nothing ever can dissolve."

"To me, at least, Lucie, you might have confided this; you would not
have found me arbitrary or tyrannical, and methinks, the advice of an
experienced friend would not have been amiss on a subject of such
importance."

"I well know your lenity and affection, dear aunt," returned Lucie; "but
I was most unwilling to involve you in my difficulties, and expose you
to my uncle's displeasure; in time, all would have been known to you; I
should have taken no important step without your advice; and why should
I perplex you, with what could now be of no avail?"

"I am willing to believe you _intended_ to do right, Lucie, though I am
not yet convinced that you _have_ done so; but we are near the gate, and
will dismiss the subject till another opportunity."

Lucie gladly assented, and their walk was pursued in silence.

CHAPTER XI.

Bedimm'd
The noontide sun, called forth the mu