Without a word he turned, hastened down the stairs, ran through the castle yard, out at the gate, and, entering the gardens between the wall and the inner stockade, made for the arbour on the terrace where the drama had been enacted. Aurora was not there; but as he looked round, disappointed, she came from the Filbert walk, and, taking his arm, led him to the arbour. They sat down without a word. In a moment she placed her head upon his shoulder; he did not respond. She put her arm (how warm it felt!) about his neck; he yielded stiffly and ungraciously to the pressure; she drew down his head, and kissed him. His lips touched but did not press hers; they met, but did not join. In his sullen and angry silence he would not look. She drew still nearer, and whispered his name. Then he broke out: he pushed her away; his petty jealousy and injured self-esteem poured out upon her. "I am not the heir to an earldom," he said; "I do not ride with a score of gentlemen at my back. They have some wonderful diamonds, have they not--_Countess?_" "Felix!" "It is no use. Yes, your voice is sweet, I know. But you, all of you, despise me. I am nothing, no one!" "You are all, _everything_, to me." "You were with--with Durand the whole time." "I could not help myself." "Not help yourself! Do you think I believe that?" "Felix, dear. I tell you I could not help myself; I could not, indeed. You do not know all--" "No, probably not. I do not know the terms of the marriage contract." "Felix, there is no such thing. Why, what has come to you? How pale you look! Sit down!" for he had risen. "I cannot, Aurora, dear; I cannot! Oh, what shall I do? I love you so!" CHAPTER XI AURORA Felix fell on the seat beside her, burying his face in the folds of her dress; he sobbed, not with tears, but choking passion. She held him to her heart as if he had been a child, stroking his hair and kissing it, whispering to him, assuring him that her love was his, that she was unchanged. She told him that it was not her fault. A little while before the feast the Baron had suddenly broken out into a fit of temper, such as she had never seen him indulge in previously; the cause was pressure put upon him by his creditors. Unpleasant truths had escaped him; amongst the rest, his dislike, his positive disapproval of the tacit engagement they had entered into.