“You shall hear all another time,” said lady Belamour.  “Let us go on now.”

They did so, but the horseman continued to flash across the windows, and when the coach, after considerable delay, had entered the walled court, rumbled over the pavement, and stopped before a closed door, he was still there.  When, after much thundering, the door was opened, Aurelia had a moment’s glimpse of a splendid figure in gold and scarlet handing out Lady Belamour, who stood talking with him on the steps of the house for some moments.  Then, shrugging his shoulders, he remounted, and cantered off, after which my Lady signed to Aurelia to alight, and followed her into the hall.

“Madge,” said Lady Belamour to the witch-like old woman who had admitted her, “this young lady is to remain here.  You will open a bedroom and sitting-room for her at the back of the house.  Let her be properly cared for, and go out in the court behind, but on no account approach the front gates.  Let no one know she is here.”

Madge muttered some demands about supplies and payments, and Lady Belamour waved her to settle them with Mrs. Loveday, turning meantime to the prisoner and saying, “There, child, you are to remain here on your good behaviour.  Do your best to merit my good will, so that I may overlook what is past.  Recollect, the least attempt to escape, or to hold intercourse with the young, or the old, fool, and it shall be the worse with them and with your father.”

Therewith she departed, followed by Loveday, leaving Aurelia standing in the middle of the hall, the old hag gazing on her with a malignant leer.  “Ho! ho’!  So that’s the way!  He has begun that work early, has he?  What’s your name, my lass?  Oh, you need give yourself airs!  I cry you mercy,” and she made a derisive curtsey.

Poor Aurelia, pride had less to do with her silence than absolute uncertainty what to call herself.  The wedding ring was on her finger, and she would not deny her marriage by calling herself Delavie, but Belamour might be dangerous, and the prefix was likewise a difficulty, so faltered, “You may call me Madam Aurelia.”

“Madam Really.  That’s a queer name, but it will serve while you are here.”

“Pray let me go to my room,” entreated the poor prisoner, who felt as ineffable disgust at her jailor, and was becoming sensible to extreme fatigue.

“Your room, hey?  D’ye think I keep rooms and beds as though this were an inn, single-handed as I am?  You must wait, unless you be too fine to lend a hand.”

“Anything will do,” said Aurelia, “if I may only rest.  I would help, but I am so much tired that I can hardly stand.”

“My Lady has given it to you well, Mistress Really or Mistress Falsely, which ever you may be,” mumbled Madge, perhaps in soliloquy, fumbling at the lock of a room which at last she opened.  It smelt very close and fusty, and most of the furniture was heaped together under a cloth in the midst, dimly visible by the light of a heart-shaped aperture in the shutters.  Unclosing one of the leaves, the old woman admitted enough daylight to guide Aurelia to a couch against the wall, saying, “You can wait there till I see to your bed.  And you’ll be wanting supper too!” she added in a tone of infinite disgust.