Mrs.Bloundel also noticed her confusion, but attributing it to any other than the right cause, begged her, in a low tone, to control herself.
At length, the opportunity for which the earl had been secretly sighing occurred.

Mr.Bloundel called his wife out of the room for a moment, and as their eldest son, Stephen, was in the shop, and the two other children upstairs, Amabel was left alone with her lover.

The door was no sooner closed than he sprang towards her and threw himself at her feet.
"Shall I avail myself of your father's offer, sweetheart ?" he cried.
"Shall I remain here with you--the happiest of prisoners--or will you once more accompany me?
This time, our marriage shall not be interrupted." "Perhaps not, my lord," she replied, gravely; "but it will be a mock ceremonial, like the last.

Do not attempt to deceive me.

I am fully aware of your intentions, and after the awful fate of the wretched instrument of your purposed criminality, you will not readily get another person to tempt in like manner the vengeance of Heaven.