Herfatherentered,andstartedback,almostupsettingsomeonebehindhimbyhisrecoil,onseeinghisdaughterinhermotionlessattitudebythedeadman.
\"MyGod,Ellinor!whathasbroughtyouhere?\"hesaid,almostfiercely.
Butsheansweredasonestupefied,\"Idon\'tknow.Ishedead?\"
\"Hush,hush,child;itcannotbehelped.\"
Sheraisedhereyestothesolemn,pitying,awe-strickenfacebehindherfather\'s——thecountenanceofDixon.
\"Ishedead?\"sheaskedofhim.
Themansteppedforwards,respectfullypushinghismasterononesideashedidso.Hebentdownoverthecorpse,andlooked,andlistenedandthenreachingacandleoffthetable,hesignedMr.Wilkinstoclosethedoor.AndMr.Wilkinsobeyed,andlookedwithanintensityofeagernessalmostamountingtofaintnessontheexperiment,andyethecouldnothope.Theflamewassteady——steadyandpitilesslyunstirred,evenwhenitwasadjustedclosetomouthandnostril;theheadwasraisedupbyoneofDixon\'sstalwartarms,whileheheldthecandleintheotherhand.EllinorfanciedthattherewassometremblingonDixon\'spart,andgraspedhiswristtightlyinordertogiveittherequisitemotionlessfirmness.
Allinvain.Theheadwasplacedagainonthecushions,theservantroseandstoodbyhismaster,lookedsadlyonthedeadman,whom,living,noneofthemhadlikedorcaredfor,andEllinorsaton,quietandtearless,asoneinatrance.
\"Howwasit,father?\"atlengthsheasked.
Hewouldfainhavehadherignorantofall,butsoquestionedbyherlips,soadjuredbyhereyesintheverypresenceofdeath,hecouldnotchoosebutspeakthetruth;hespokeitinconvulsivegasps,eachsentenceaneffort:
\"Hetauntedme——hewasinsolent,beyondmypatience——Icouldnotbearit.Istruckhim——Ican\'ttellhowitwas.Hemusthavehithisheadinfalling.Oh,myGod!onelittlehouragoIwasinnocentofthisman\'sblood!\"Hecoveredhisfacewithhishands.
Ellinortookthecandleagain;kneelingbehindMr.Dunster\'shead,shetriedthefutileexperimentoncemore.
\"Couldnotadoctordosomegood?\"sheaskedofDixon,inahopelessvoice.
\"No!\"saidhe,shakinghishead,andlookingwithasidelongglanceathismaster,whoseemedtoshrivelupandtoshrinkawayatthebaresuggestion.\"Doctorscandonought,I\'mafeard.Allthatadoctorcoulddo,Itakeit,wouldbetoopenavein,andthatIcoulddoalongwiththebestofthem,ifIhadbutmyfleamhere.\"Hefumbledinhispocketsashespoke,and,aschancewouldit,the\"fleam\"orcattlelancetwassomewhereabouthisdress.Hedrewitout,smoothedandtrieditonhisfinger.Ellinortriedtobarethearm,butturnedsickasshedidso.Herfatherstartedeagerlyforwards,anddidwhatwasnecessarywithhurriedtremblinghands.
Iftheyhadcaredlessabouttheresult,theymighthavebeenmoreafraidoftheconsequencesoftheoperationinthehandsofonesoignorantasDixon.But,veinorartery,itsignifiedlittle;nolivingbloodgushedout;onlyalittlewaterymoisturefollowedthecutofthefleam.Theylaidhimbackonhisstrangesaddeath-couch.
Dixonspokenext.
\"MasterNed!\"saidhe——forhehadknownMr.Wilkinsinhisdaysofbrightcarelessboyhood,andalmostwascarriedbacktothembythesenseofchargeandprotectionwhichtheservant\'spresenceofmindandsharpenedsensesgavehimoverhismasteronthisdrearynight——
\"MasterNed!wemustdosummut.\"
Noonespoke.Whatwastobedone?
\"Didanyfolkseehimcomehere?\"Dixonasked,afteratime.Ellinorlookeduptohearherfather\'sanswer,awildhopecomingintohermindthatallmightbeconcealedsomehow;shedidnotknowhow,nordidshethinkofanyconsequencesexceptsavingherfatherfromthevaguedread,trouble,andpunishmentthatshewasawarewouldawaithimifallwereknown.
Mr.Wilkinsdidnotseemtohear;infact,hedidnothearanythingbuttheunspokenechoofhisownlastwords,thatwentboomingthroughhisheart:\"AnhouragoIwasinnocentofthisman\'sblood!
Onlyanhourago!\"
Dixongotupandpouredouthalfatumblerfulofrawspiritfromthebrandy-bottlethatstoodonthetable.
\"Drinkthis,MasterNed!\"puttingittohismaster\'slips.\"Nay\"——toEllinor——\"itwilldohimnoharm;onlybringbackhissenses,which,poorgentleman,arescaredaway.Weshallneedallourwits.Now,sir,pleaseanswermyquestion.DidanyoneseeMeasterDunstercomehere?\"
\"Idon\'tknow,\"saidMr.Wilkins,recoveringhisspeech.\"Itallseemsinamist.Heofferedtowalkhomewithme;Ididnotwanthim.Iwasalmostrudetohimtokeephimoff.Ididnotwanttotalkofbusiness;Ihadtakentoomuchwinetobeveryclearandsomethingsattheofficewerenotquiteinorder,andhehadfounditout.Ifanyoneheardourconversation,theymustknowIdidnotwanthimtocomewithme.Oh!whywouldhecome?Hewasasobstinate——hewouldcome——andhereithasbeenhisdeath!\"
\"Well,sir,what\'sdonecan\'tbeundone,andI\'msurewe\'danyofusbringhimbacktolifeifwecould,evenbycuttingoffourhands,thoughhewasamightyplagueychapwhilehe\'dbreathinhim.ButwhatI\'mthinkingisthis:it\'llmaybegoawkwardwithyou,sir,ifhe\'sfoundhere.Onecan\'tsay.Butdon\'tyouthink,miss,ashe\'sneitherkithnorkintomisshim,wemightjustburyhimawaybeforemorning,somewhere?There\'sbetternorfourhoursofdark.Iwishwecouldputhimi\'thechurchyard,butthatcan\'tbe;but,tomymind,thesoonerwesetaboutdiggingaplaceforhimtoliein,poorfellow,thebetterit\'llbeforusallintheend.Icanpareapieceofturfupwhereit\'llneverbemissed,andifmaster\'lltakeonespade,andIanother,whywe\'lllayhimsoftlydown,andcoverhimup,andnoone\'llbethewiser.\"
Therewasnoreplyfromeitherforaminuteorso.ThenMr.Wilkinssaid:
\"Ifmyfathercouldhaveknownofmylivingtothis!Why,theywilltrymeasacriminal;andyou,Ellinor?Dixon,youareright.Wemustconcealit,orImustcutmythroat,forInevercouldlivethroughit.Oneminuteofpassion,andmylifeblasted!\"
\"Comealong,sir,\"saidDixon;\"there\'snotimetolose.\"Andtheywentoutinsearchoftools;Ellinorfollowingthem,shiveringallover,butbeggingthatshemightbewiththem,andnothavetoremaininthestudywith-
Shewouldnotbebiddenintoherownroom;shedreadedinactionandsolitude.Shemadeherselfbusywithcarryingheavybasketsofturf,andstrainingherstrengthtotheutmost;fetchingallthatwaswanted,withsoftswiftsteps.
Once,asshepassedneartheopenstudydoor,shethoughtthatsheheardarustling,andaflashofhopecameacrossher.Couldhebereviving?Sheentered,butamomentwasenoughtoundeceiveher;ithadonlybeenanightrustleamongthetrees.Ofhope,life,therewasnone.
Theydugtheholedeepandwell;workingwithfierceenergytoquenchthoughtandremorse.Onceortwiceherfatheraskedforbrandy,whichEllinor,reassuredbytheapparentlygoodeffectofthefirstdose,broughttohimwithoutaword;andonceatherfather\'ssuggestionshebroughtfood,suchasshecouldfindinthedining-
roomwithoutdisturbingthehousehold,forDixon.
Whenallwasreadyforthereceptionofthebodyinitsunblessedgrave,Mr.WilkinsbadeEllinorgouptoherownroom——shehaddoneallshecouldtohelpthem;therestmustbedonebythemalone.Shefeltthatitmust;andindeedbothhernervesandherbodilystrengthweregivingway.Shewouldhavekissedherfather,ashesatwearilyattheheadofthegrave——Dixonhadgoneintomakesomearrangementforcarryingthecorpse——buthepushedherawayquietly,butresolutely-
\"No,Nelly,youmustneverkissmeagain;Iamamurderer.\"
\"ButIwill,myowndarlingpapa,\"saidshe,throwingherarmspassionatelyroundhisneck,andcoveringhisfacewithkisses.\"I
loveyou,andIdon\'tcarewhatyouare,ifyouweretwentytimesamurderer,whichyouarenot;Iamsureitwasonlyanaccident.\"
\"Goin,mychild,goin,andtrytogetsomerest.Butgoin,forwemustfinishasfastaswecan.Themoonisdown;itwillsoonbedaylight.Whatablessingtherearenoroomsononesideofthehouse.Go,Nelly.\"Andshewent;strainingherselfuptomovenoiselessly,witheyesaverted,throughtheroomwhichsheshudderedatastheplaceofhastyandunhalloweddeath.
Onceinherownroomsheboltedthedoorontheinside,andthenstoletothewindow,asifsomefascinationimpelledhertowatchalltheproceedingstotheend.Butherachingeyescouldhardlypenetratethroughthethickdarkness,which,atthetimeoftheyearofwhichIamspeaking,socloselyprecedesthedawn.Shecoulddiscernthetopsofthetreesagainstthesky,andcouldsingleoutthewell-knownone,atalittledistancefromthestemofwhichthegravewasmade,intheverypieceofturfoverwhichsolatelysheandRalphhadhadtheirmerrylittletea-making;andwhereherfather,asshenowremembered,hadshudderedandshivered,asifthegroundonwhichhisseathadthenbeenplacedwasfatefulandominoustohim.
Thosebelowmovedsoftlyandquietlyinalltheydid;buteverysoundhadasignificantandterribleinterpretationtoEllinor\'sears.
Beforetheyhadended,thelittlebirdshadbeguntopipeouttheirgayreveilleetothedawn.Thendoorsclosed,andallwasprofoundlystill.
Ellinorthrewherself,inherclothes,onthebed;andwasthankfulfortheintensewearyphysicalpainwhichtookoffsomethingoftheanguishofthought——anguishthatshefanciedfromtimetotimewasleadingtoinsanity.
By-and-bythemorningcoldmadeherinstinctivelycreepbetweentheblankets;and,oncethere,shefellintoadeadheavysleep.
CHAPTERVII.
Ellinorwasawakenedbyarappingatherdoor:itwashermaid.
Shewasfullyarousedinamoment,forshehadfallenasleepwithoneclearlydefinedplaninhermind,onlyone,forallthoughtsandcareshavingnorelationtotheterribleeventwereasthoughtheyhadneverbeen.Allherpurposewastoshieldherfatherfromsuspicion.Andtodothisshemustcontrolherself——heart,mind,andbodymustberuledtothisoneend.
SoshesaidtoMason:
\"Letmeliehalfanhourlonger;andbegMissMonronottowaitbreakfastforme;butinhalfanhourbringmeupacupofstrongtea,forIhaveabadheadache.\"
Masonwentaway.Ellinorsprangup;rapidlyundressedherself,andgotintobedagain,sothatwhenhermaidreturnedwithherbreakfast,therewasnoappearanceofthenighthavingbeenpassedinanyunusualmanner.
\"Howillyoudolook,miss!\"saidMason.\"Iamsureyouhadbetternotgetupyet.\"
Ellinorlongedtoaskifherfatherhadyetshownhimself;butthisquestion——sonaturalatanyothertime——seemedtohersosuspiciousunderthecircumstances,thatshecouldnotbringherlipstoframeit.Atanyrate,shemustgetupandstruggletomakethedaylikeallotherdays.Sosherose,confessingthatshedidnotfeelverywell,buttryingtomakelightofit,andwhenshecouldthinkofanythingbuttheoneawe,tosayatrivialsentenceortwo.Butshecouldnotrecollecthowshebehavedingeneral,forherlifehithertohadbeensimple,andledwithoutanyconsciousnessofeffect.
Beforeshewasdressed,amessagecameuptosaythatMr.Livingstonewasinthedrawing-room.
Mr.Livingstone!Hebelongedtotheoldlifeofyesterday!Thebillowsofthenighthadsweptoverhismarkonthesandsofhermemory;anditwasonlybyastrongeffortthatshecouldrememberwhohewas——whathewanted.ShesentMasondowntoinquirefromtheservantwhoadmittedhimwhomitwasthathehadaskedfor.
\"Heaskedformasterfirst.Butmasterhasnotrungforhiswateryet,soJamestoldhimhewasnotup.Thenhetookthoughtforawhile,andaskedcouldhespeaktoyou,hewouldwaitifyouwerenotatlibertybutthathewishedparticulartoseeeithermaster,oryou.SoJamesaskedhimtositdowninthedrawing-room,andhewouldletyouknow.\"
\"Imustgo,\"thoughtEllinor.\"Iwillsendhimawaydirectly;tocome,thinkingofmarriagetoahouselikethis——to-day,too!\"
Andshewentdownhastily,andinahardunsparingmoodtowardsaman,whoseaffectionforhershethoughtwaslikeagourd,grownupinanight,andofnoaccount,butasapieceoffoolish,boyishexcitement.
Sheneverthoughtofherownappearance——shehaddressedwithoutlookingintheglass.Heronlyobjectwastodismissherwould-besuitorasspeedilyaspossible.Allfeelingsofshyness,awkwardness,ormaidenmodesty,werequenchedandovercome.Inshewent.
Hewasstandingbythemantelpieceassheentered.Hemadeasteportwoforwardtomeether;andthenstopped,petrified,asitwere,atthesightofherhardwhiteface.
\"MissWilkins,Iamafraidyouareill!Ihavecometooearly.ButIhavetoleaveHamleyinhalfanhour,andIthought——Oh,MissWilkins!whathaveIdone?\"
Forshesankintothechairnearesttoher,asifovercomebyhiswords;but,indeed,itwasbytheoppressionofherownthoughts:
shewashardlyconsciousofhispresence.
Hecameasteportwonearer,asifhelongedtotakeherinhisarmsandcomfortandshelterher;butshestiffenedherselfandarose,andbyaneffortwalkedtowardsthefireplace,andtherestood,asifawaitingwhathewouldsaynext.Buthewasoverwhelmedbyheraspectofillness.Healmostforgothisownwishes,hisownsuit,inhisdesiretorelieveherfromthepain,physicalashebelievedit,underwhichshewassuffering.Itwasshewhohadtobeginthesubject.
\"Ireceivedyourletteryesterday,Mr.Livingstone.Iwasanxioustoseeyouto-day,inorderthatImightpreventyoufromspeakingtomyfather.Idonotsayanythingofthekindofaffectionyoucanfeelforme——me,whomyouhaveonlyseenonce.AllIshallsayis,thatthesoonerwebothforgetwhatImustcallfolly,thebetter.\"
Shetooktheairsofawomanconsiderablyolderandmoreexperiencedthanhimself.Hethoughtherhaughty;shewasonlymiserable.
\"Youaremistaken,\"saidhe,morequietlyandwithmoredignitythanwaslikelyfromhispreviousconduct.\"Iwillnotallowyoutocharacteriseasfollywhatmightbepresumptuousonmypart——Ihadnobusinesstoexpressmyselfsosoon——butwhichinitsfoundationwastrueandsincere.ThatIcananswerformostsolemnly.Itispossible,thoughitmaynotbeausualthing,foramantofeelsostronglyattractedbythecharmsandqualitiesofawoman,evenatfirstsight,astofeelsurethatshe,andshealone,canmakehishappiness.Myfollyconsisted——thereyouareright——inevendreamingthatyoucouldreturnmyfeelingsintheslightestdegree,whenyouhadonlyseenmeonce:andIammosttrulyashamedofmyself.I
cannottellyouhowsorryIam,whenIseehowyouhavecompelledyourselftocomeandspeaktomewhenyouaresoill.\"
Shestaggeredintoachair,forwithallherwishforhisspeedydismissal,shewasobligedtobeseated.Hishandwasuponthebell.
\"No,don\'t!\"shesaid.\"Waitaminute.\"
Hiseyes,bentuponherwithalookofdeepanxiety,touchedheratthatmoment,andshewasonthepointofsheddingtears;butshecheckedherself,androseagain.
\"Iwillgo,\"saidhe.\"ItisthekindestthingIcando.Only,mayIwrite?MayIventuretowriteandurgewhatIhavetosaymorecoherently?\"
\"No!\"saidshe.\"Don\'twrite.Ihavegivenyoumyanswer.Wearenothing,andcanbenothingtoeachother.Iamengagedtobemarried.Ishouldnothavetoldyouifyouhadnotbeensokind.
Thankyou.Butgonow.\"
Thepooryoungman\'sfacefell,andhebecamealmostaswhiteasshewasfortheinstant.Afteramoment\'sreflection,hetookherhandinhis,andsaid:
\"MayGodblessyou,andhimtoo,whoeverhebe!Butifyouwantafriend,Imaybethatfriend,mayInot?andtrytoprovethatmywordsofregardweretrue,inabetterandhighersensethanIusedthematfirst.\"Andkissingherpassivehand,hewasgoneandshewasleftsittingalone.
Butsolitudewasnotwhatshecouldbear.Shewentquicklyupstairs,andtookastrongdoseofsal-volatile,evenwhilesheheardMissMonrocallingtoher.
\"Mydear,whowasthatgentlemanthathasbeenclosetedwithyouinthedrawing-roomallthistime?\"
Andthen,withoutlisteningtoEllinor\'sreply,shewenton:
\"Mrs.Jacksonhasbeenhere\"itwasatMrs.Jackson\'shousethatMr.
Dunsterlodged,\"wantingtoknowifwecouldtellherwhereMr.
Dunsterwas,forhenevercamehomelastnightatall.Andyouwereinthedrawing-roomwith——whodidyousayhewas?——thatMr.
Livingstone,whomighthavecomeatabettertimetobidgood-bye;
andhehadneverdinedhere,hadhe?soIdon\'tseeanyreasonhehadtocomecalling,andP.P.C-ing,andyourpapaNOTup.SoIsaidtoMrs.Jackson,\'I\'llsendandaskMr.Wilkins,ifyoulike,butI
don\'tseeanyuseinit,forIcantellyoujustaswellasanybody,thatMr.Dunsterisnotinthishouse,whereverhemaybe.\'Yetnothingwouldsatisfyherbutthatsomeonemustgoandwakenupyourpapa,andaskifhecouldtellwhereMr.Dunsterwas.\"
\"Anddidpapa?\"inquiredEllinor,herdrythroathuskilyformingtheinquirythatseemedtobeexpectedfromher.
\"No!tobesurenot.HowshouldMr.Wilkinsknow?AsIsaidtoMrs.
Jackson,\'Mr.WilkinsisnotlikelytoknowwhereMr.Dunsterspendshistimewhenheisnotintheoffice,fortheydonotmoveinthesamerankoflife,mygoodwoman;andMrs.Jacksonapologised,butsaidthatyesterdaytheyhadbothbeendiningatMr.Hodgson\'stogether,shebelieved;andsomehowshehadgotitintoherheadthatMr.DunstermighthavemissedhiswayincomingalongMoorLane,andmighthaveslippedintothecanal;soshejustthoughtshewouldstepupandaskMr.WilkinsiftheyhadleftMr.Hodgson\'stogether,orifyourpapahaddrivenhome.Iaskedherwhyshehadnottoldmealltheseparticularsbefore,forIcouldhaveaskedyourpapamyselfallaboutwhenhelastsawMr.Dunster;andIwentuptoaskhimasecondtime,buthedidnotlikeitatall,forhewasbusydressing,andI
hadtoshoutmyquestionsthroughthedoor,andhecouldnotalwayshearmeatfirst.\"
\"Whatdidhesay?\"
\"Oh!hehadwalkedpartofthewaywithMr.Dunster,andthencutacrossbytheshortpaththroughthefields,asfarasIcouldunderstandhimthroughthedoor.HeseemedverymuchannoyedtohearthatMr.Dunsterhadnotbeenathomeallnight;buthesaidIwastotellMrs.Jacksonthathewouldgototheofficeassoonashehadhadhisbreakfast,whichheorderedtobesentupdirectlyintohisownroom,andhehadnodoubtitwouldallturnoutright,butthatshehadbettergohomeatonce.And,asItoldher,shemightfindMr.Dunstertherebythetimeshegotthere.There,thereisyourI
papagoingout!Hehasnotlostanytimeoverhisbreakfast!\"
EllinorhadtakenuptheHamleyExaminer,adailypaper,whichlayonthetable,tohideherfaceinthefirstinstance;butitservedasecondpurpose,assheglancedlanguidlyoverthecolumnsoftheadvertisements.
\"Oh!hereareColonelMacdonald\'sorchideousplantstobesold.AllthestockofhothouseandstoveplantsatHartwellPriory.ImustsendJamesovertoHartwelltoattendthesale.Itistolastforthreedays.\"
\"Butcanhebesparedforsolong?\"
\"Oh,yes;hehadbetterstayatthelittleinnthere,tobeonthespot.Threedays,\"andasshespoke,sheranouttothegardener,whowassweepingupthenewly-mowngrassinthefrontofthehouse.
Shegavehimhastyandunlimiteddirections,onlyseemingintent——ifanyonehadbeensuspiciouslywatchingherwordsandactions——tohurryhimofftothedistantvillage,wheretheauctionwastotakeplace.
Whenhewasoncegoneshebreathedmorefreely.Now,noonebutthethreecognisantoftheterriblereasonofthedisturbanceoftheturfunderthetreesinacertainspotinthebeltroundtheflower-
garden,wouldbelikelytogointotheplace.MissMonromightwanderroundwithabookinherhand;butshenevernoticedanything,andwasshort-sightedintothebargain.Threedaysofthismoist,warm,growingweather,andthegreengrasswouldspring,justasiflife——waswhatithadbeentwenty-fourhoursbefore.
Whenallthiswasdoneandsaid,itseemedasifEllinor\'sstrengthandspiritsankdownatonce.Hervoicebecamefeeble,heraspectwan;andalthoughshetoldMissMonrothatnothingwasthematter,yetitwasimpossibleforanyonewholovedhernottoperceivethatshewasfarfromwell.Thekindgovernessplacedherpupilonthesofa,coveredherfeetupwarmly,darkenedtheroom,andthenstoleoutontiptoe,fancyingthatEllinorwouldsleep.Hereyeswere,indeed,shut;buttryasmuchasshewouldtobequiet,shewasupinlessthanfiveminutesafterMissMonrohadlefttheroom,andwalkingupanddowninalltherestlessagonyofbodythatarisesfromanoverstrainedmind.ButsoonMissMonroreappeared,bringingwithheradoseofsoothingmedicineofherownconcocting,forshewasgreatindomesticquackery.WhatthemedicinewasEllinordidnotcaretoknow;shedrankitwithoutanysignofherusualmerryresistancetophysicofMissMonro\'sordering;andasthelattertookupabook,andshowedasetpurposeofremainingwithherpatient,Ellinorwascompelledtoliestill,andpresentlyfellasleep.
Sheawakenedlateintheafternoonwithastart.Herfatherwasstandingoverher,listeningtoMissMonro\'saccountofherindisposition.Sheonlycaughtoneglimpseofhisstrangelyalteredcountenance,andhidherheadinthecushions——hiditfrommemory,notfromhim.Forinaninstantshemusthaveconjecturedtheinterpretationhewaslikelytoputuponhershrinkingaction,andshehadturnedtowardshim,andhadthrownherarmsroundhisneck,andwaskissinghiscold,passiveface.Thenshefellback.Butallthistimetheirsadeyesnevermet——theydreadedthelookofrecollectionthatmustbeineachother\'sgaze.
\"There,mydear!\"saidMissMonro.\"NowyoumustliestilltillI
fetchyoualittlebroth.Youarebetternow,arenotyou?\"
\"Youneednotgoforthebroth,MissMonro,\"saidMr.Wilkins,ringingthebell.\"Fletchercansurelybringit.\"Hedreadedthebeingleftalonewithhisdaughter——nordidshefearitless.Sheheardthestrangealterationinherfather\'svoice,hardandhoarse,asifitwasanefforttospeak.Thephysicalsignsofhissufferingcuthertotheheart;andyetshewonderedhowitwasthattheycouldbothbealive,or,ifalive,theywerenotrendingtheirgarmentsandcryingaloud.Mr.Wilkinsseemedtohavelostthepowerofcarelessactionandspeech,itistrue.Hewishedtoleavetheroomnowhisanxietyabouthisdaughterwasrelieved,buthardlyknewhowtosetaboutit.Hewasobligedtothinkabouttheveriesttrifle,inorderthatbyaneffortofreasonhemightunderstandhowheshouldhavespokenoractedifhehadbeenfreefromblood-guiltiness.Ellinorunderstoodallbyintuition.Buthenceforwardtheunspokencomprehensionofeachother\'shiddenmotionsmadetheirmutualpresenceaburdensomeanxietytoeach.MissMonrowasarelief;theyweregladofherasathirdperson,unconsciousofthesecretwhichconstrainedthem.Thisafternoonherunconsciousnessgavepresentpain,althoughonafterreflectioneachfoundinherspeechesacauseofrejoicing.
\"AndMr.Dunster,Mr.Wilkins,hashecomehomeyet?\"
Amoment\'spause,inwhichMr.Wilkinspumpedthewordsoutofhishuskythroat:
\"Ihavenotheard.Ihavebeenriding.IwentonbusinesstoMr.
Estcourt\'s.PerhapsyouwillbesokindastosendandinquireatMrs.Jackson\'s.\"
Ellinorsickenedatthewords.Shehadbeenallherlifeatruthfulplain-spokengirl.Sheheldherselfhighabovedeceit.Yet,herecamethenecessityfordeceit——asnarespreadaroundher.Shehadnotrevoltedsomuchfromthedeedwhichbroughtunpremeditateddeath,asshedidfromthesewordsofherfather\'s.Thenightbefore,inhermadfeverofaffright,shehadfanciedthattoconcealthebodywasallthatwouldberequired;shehadnotlookedforwardtothelong,wearycourseofsmalllies,tobedoneandsaid,involvedinthatonemistakenaction.Yet,whileherfather\'swordsmadehersoulrevolt,hisappearancemeltedherheart,asshecaughtit,halfturnedawayfromher,neitherlookingstraightatMissMonro,noratanythingmateriallyvisible.HishollowsunkeneyeseemedtoEllinortohaveavisionofthedeadmanbeforeit.Hischeekwaslividandworn,anditshealthycolouringgainedbyyearsofheartyout-doorexercise,wasallgoneintothewannessofage.
Hishair,eventoEllinor,seemedgreyerforthepastnightofwretchedness.Hestooped,andlookeddreamilyearthward,whereformerlyhehadstooderect.ItneededallthepitycalledforthbysuchobservationtoquenchEllinor\'spassionatecontemptforthecourseonwhichsheandherfatherwereembarked,whensheheardhimrepeathiswordstotheservantwhocamewithherbroth.
\"Fletcher!gotoMrs.Jackson\'sandinquireifMr.Dunsteriscomehomeyet.Iwanttospeaktohim.\"
\"Tohim!\"lyingdeadwherehehadbeenlaid;killedbythemanwhonowaskedforhispresence.Ellinorshuthereyes,andlaybackindespair.Shewishedshemightdie,andbeoutofthishorribletangleofevents.
Twominutesafter,shewasconsciousofherfatherandMissMonrostealingsoftlyoutoftheroom.Theythoughtthatsheslept.
Shesprangoffthesofaandkneltdown.
\"Oh,God,\"sheprayed,\"Thouknowest!Helpme!ThereisnoneotherhelpbutThee!\"
Isupposeshefainted.For,anhourormoreafterwardsMissMonro,comingin,foundherlyinginsensiblebythesideofthesofa.
Shewascarriedtobed.Shewasnotdelirious,shewasonlyinastupor,whichtheyfearedmightendindelirium.Toobviatethis,herfathersentfarandwideforskilfulphysicians,whotendedher,almostattherateofaguineatheminute.
PeoplesaidhowharditwasuponMr.Wilkins,thatscarcelyhadthatwretchDunstergoneoff,withnooneknowshowmuchoutofthetrustsofthefirm,beforehisonlychildfellill.And,totellthetruth,hehimselflookedburntandscaredwithaffliction.Hehadastartledlook,theysaid,asifhenevercouldtell,aftersuchexperience,fromwhichsidetheawfulproofsoftheuncertaintyofearthwouldappear,theterriblephantomsofunforeseendread.Bothrichandpoor,townandcountry,sympathisedwithhim.Therichcarednottopresstheirclaims,ortheirbusiness,atsuchatime;
andonlywondered,intheirsuperficialtalkafterdinner,howsuchagoodfellowasWilkinscouldeverhavebeendeceivedbyamanlikeDunster.EvenSirFrankHolsterandhisladyforgottheiroldquarrel,andcametoinquireafterEllinor,andsentherhothousefruitbythebushel.
Mr.Corbetbehavedasananxiouslovershoulddo.HewrotedailytoMissMonrotobegforthemostminutebulletins;heprocuredeverythingintownthatanydoctorevenfanciedmightbeofservice,hecamedownassoonastherewastheslightesthintofpermissionthatEllinormightseehim.Heoverpoweredherwithtenderwordsandcaresses,tillatlastsheshrankawayfromthem,asfromsomethingtoobewildering,andpastallrightcomprehension.
Butonenightbeforethis,whenallwindowsanddoorsstoodopentoadmittheleastbreaththatstirredthesultryJulyair,aservantonvelvettiptoehadstolenuptoEllinor\'sopendoor,andhadbeckonedoutofthechamberofthesleepertheeverwatchfulnurse,MissMonro.
\"Agentlemanwantsyou,\"wereallthewordsthehousemaiddaredtosaysoclosetothebedroom.Andsoftly,softlyMissMonrosteppeddownthestairs,intothedrawing-room;andthereshesawMr.
Livingstone.Butshedidnotknowhim;shehadneverseenhimbefore.
\"Ihavetravelledallday.Iheardshewasill——wasdying.MayI
justhaveonemorelookather?Iwillnotspeak;Iwillhardlybreathe.Onlyletmeseeheronceagain!\"
\"Ibegyourpardon,sir,butIdon\'tknowwhoyouare;andifyoumeanMissWilkins,by\'her,\'sheisveryill,butwehopenotdying.
Shewasveryill,indeed,yesterday;verydangerouslyill,Imaysay,butsheishavingagoodsleep,inconsequenceofasoporificmedicine,andwearereallybeginningtohope——\"
ButjusthereMissMonro\'shandwastaken,and,toherinfinitesurprise,waskissedbeforeshecouldrememberhowimpropersuchbehaviourwas.
\"Godblessyou,madam,forsayingso.Butifshesleeps,willyouletmeseeher?itcandonoharm,forIwilltreadasifoneggshells;andIhavecomesofar——ifImightjustlookonhersweetface.Pray,madam,letmejusthaveonesightofher.Iwillnotaskformore.\"
Buthedidaskformoreafterhehadhadhiswish.HestoleupstairsafterMissMonro,wholookedroundreproachfullyathimifevenanightingalesang,oranowlhootedinthetreesoutsidetheopenwindows,yetwhopausedtosayherself,outsideMr.Wilkins\'schamberdoor,\"Herfather\'sroom;hehasnotbeeninbedforsixnights,tillto-
night;praydonotmakeanoisetowakenhim.\"Andonintothedeepstillnessofthehushedroom,whereoneclearrayofhiddenlamp-
lightshotathwartthedoor,whereawatcher,breathingsoftly,satbesidethebed——whereEllinor\'sdarkheadlaymotionlessonthewhitepillow,herfacealmostaswhite,herformalmostasstill.Youmighthaveheardapinfall.Afterawhilehemovedtowithdraw.