do me the favour to state that I am a very old friend, and will not long detain her." The widow moved, and was on the point of saying something about whom she should have the honour to announce to Mrs. Stanley, and so on; but the manner of the stranger was so ladylike and gentle that she bowed and retired, completely disarmed. "She is rather an elderly person," said the widow on her return to Amelia. "I cannot exactly make her out; but at all events I think that you may see her with perfect safety." Amelia at this moment experienced a most extraordinary sensation. She could not account for it. It might have proceeded from the painful state of nervous excitement in which she had been kept during the night; but she certainly never had so strange a feeling before. She, however, went down, although excessively agitated, and, on entering the room, saw her mother! "My dear-dear mamma!" she exclaimed, rushing into her arms. "What joy to see you here!" These were the only words that passed for some moments. Every feeling was merged in that of affection. Their hearts beat in unison. Nature was triumphant. "Heaven bless you, my child!-bless you!" sobbed the affectionate mother. "My heart is too full to allow my feelings to be expressed." And as she spoke, her tears fell fast, and Amelia, who clung to her, kissed her with heartfelt emotion. "Oh, this is kind indeed!" said Amelia, -" most kind. It is more than I could have expected,-much more than I deserve." And, as at the moment she appeared to have been awakened to a sense of her position, she with downcast eyes dropped upon her knees. "I came not to reproach you, my love; I came not for the purpose of wounding your feelings, but simply to learn if you are treated kindly here?" "Oh! yes-most kindly," replied Amelia. "My Stanley is most affectionate. He does all in his power to promote my happiness. Indeed he is a dear good creature. I cannot sufficiently love him." "My child, conceal nothing from me. This morning you sent to our house. He had been out all night, and" "Yes-yes; he unfortunately met with an accident. He was knocked down by some heartless persons, who, having robbed him, left him insensible." "Is he then seriously injured ?" "Thank Heaven!" cried Amelia, "he is not; although I am sure they have injured him more than he will admit; he is so anxious to conceal from me everything calculated to give me the slightest pain." "Then in general he behaves with great kindness?" "Oh, invariably !" replied Amelia. "There is nothing in his conduct of which I can complain. There is nothing, in fact, which does not deserve the warmest praise." "I am happy to hear it. My mind is now relieved. I much feared that it was otherwise, and therefore determined to steal away this morning, in order to ascertain from your own lips if it were so." "But you will not leave me yet?" "I must, my dear child. I must return as quickly as possible. No one has the slightest idea of my coming. It must, moreover, be kept a profound secret still." |