The evening passed off much as usual. The family assembled at prayer; and Blaize, whose shoulders still ached with the chastisement he had received, eyed the apprentice with sullen and revengeful looks. Patience, too, was equally angry, and her indignation was evinced in a manner so droll, that at another season it would have drawn a smile from Leonard.
Supper over, Amabel left the room. Leonard followed her, and overtook her on the landing of the stairs.
"Amabel," he said, "I have received certain intelligence that the Earl of Rochester will make another attempt to enter the house, and carry you off to-night."
"Oh! when will he cease from persecuting me?" she cried.
"When you cease to encourage him," replied the apprentice, bitterly.
"I do not encourage him, Leonard," she rejoined, "and to prove that I do not, I will act in any way you think proper tonight."
"If I could trust you," said Leonard, "you might be of the greatest service in convincing the earl that his efforts are fruitless."
"You may trust me," she rejoined.
"Well, then," returned Leonard, "when the family have retired to rest, come downstairs, and I will tell you what to do."
Hastily promising compliance, Amabel disappeared; and Leonard ran down the stairs, at the foot of which he encountered Mrs. Bloundel.