"Mr. Edmund's sent for up to master," said the man, confusedly, as he saw that his young mistress was there. "Beg your pardon, Miss Amelia; but I didn't know no one was here, and come in to rest--he's mortal heavy, for all he's so little," he continued, as he staggered out again, somewhat dismayed by his blunder. Miss Amelia was not the gentlest of rulers. Little Edmund, meanwhile, clung to his bearer's shoulder, with his suspicious eyes gleaming large and eager out of his little white child's face. Edmund was not the person to come and go without a word. "I say, sir, you!" cried Edmund, "papa's ill. You're not to come a-courting, as Stevens says you all do, to-night. I won't have it--_I_ won't! I'm papa's son, and when he's ill there shan't be strangers in the house!" The end of this harangue was lost in the depths of the stairs, where Stevens had borne forth in alarm his dangerous charge. Amelia started, half rose, shook out her great skirts, and turned with graceful condescension to her lover. "Don't mind that little savage, Mr. Scarsdale. But really I had quite forgotten that papa asked to see you; this has been such an agitating, anxious day. Pray call Stevens, and make him tell papa that you are here; and please," she continued, rising up suddenly, and laying her hand on Horace's arm, "please do let me know what he says to you. Oh, I'm sure it's about little Edmund--that little wretch is such a pet with papa, and it's so unfair to us. Will you?" she cried, with animation, making no resistance when Horace took and held her hand. "Will you really? Oh, do, there's a dear good--oh no, I did not mean that; I meant, there's a kind friend; now don't be foolish, Mr. Scarsdale; go up directly to papa." "I will, because you tell me," said Horace; "for your sake--it would be hard to go on any other argument; and when I promise to tell you what he says, promise that _you_ will see me again." "Oh, yes, yes," said Amelia, hurrying him to the door, with a little fright, adding piquancy to her gratified vanity. She had seen various people "in love," and was a little indifferent to the manifestations of that youthful delusion; but the eyes of Horace glowed upon her with no commonplace fervour. She was flattered, but she was a little afraid, even though she was not aware what black companion she had in the young man's dangerous heart. CHAPTER VII.