Amethyst made no contradiction, but she looked at her mother with tragical eyes, hardly controlling tears of she knew not what strange distress. "What does it mean?" said Lucian, as Lady Haredale turned away. "I don't understand." "Don't ask," said Amethyst. "Oh, Lucian, it's like heaven to see you, and know that I belong to you,--but--but--" "You don't belong to any one else; keep yourself quite separate. You're mine, mine only," said Lucian in the short, masterful tone peculiar to him. "I hate that fellow," he continued, as he drew her away into the cypress walk; "he's a bad sort." "But now he is going to be married, we shall not see anything more of him," said Amethyst. "Have nothing to do with him. You haven't seen very much of him, have you?" "Why, I have _seen_ a good deal of him. He has been here so much; but-- Lucian, I don't think I notice any one now-a-days. I'm always thinking of you." Lucian looked down at her with eyes which, light in colour and steadfast in expression, had a peculiar unfaltering clearness, pure as crystal, but a little hard. He was rarely tender in word or look, he showed his love for Amethyst by taking possession of her. "No one else has any right to you," he said firmly; and, as he took her in his arms, she forgot everything that troubled her, in his kiss. CHAPTER TEN. EDEN'S GATE. When Lucian left her, Amethyst stood leaning over the stile, which, at the end of the long cypress walk, led through a little wood into the fields. She watched his brisk active movements, his tall slight figure, with a proud sense of possession. In the morning he would come back again, through the shade and sunlight of the woodland path, and if, as might be, she were watching for him, would wave a greeting where now he waved a farewell. She turned as he passed out of sight, and started to see her graceful, charming mother coming down the long walk towards her. "My darling child," said Lady Haredale, with a little anxious frown on her sweet face, "I made the best of it just now; but I'm in mortal trouble. Will you help me?" "Oh, mother dear, what is it?" said Amethyst, as Lady Haredale put her arm round her waist, and walked on by her side. "Well, dear, the truth is that I owe some money. When people are in such a dreadful state of _hard-upishness_ as your poor papa and I, one can do nothing like other people. You see how careful I am about my clothes, I'm not a bit extravagant; but just a little game of cards is a most innocent diversion--when one can afford it. I know it's just the one pleasure I can't resist--my poor old daddy couldn't either--which was why your dear father only got about three farthings with me--a thing Charles has never forgiven." "Oh, mother," said Amethyst, breathlessly, "then don't buy the velvet dress. And I would just have a plain white to be married in." "Oh, darling, that's nothing to do with it. But I'm going to confide in my girl, and she'll keep my secret, won't she?"