A Dark Night's Work

by a rapping at her d

thoughts and cares having no relation to the terrible event were as though they had never been. All her purpose was to shi

said to

t to wait breakfast for me; but in half an hour bring

nto bed again, so that when her maid returned with her breakfast, there

" said Mason. "I am sure yo

e it. At any rate, she must get up and struggle to make the day like all other days. So she rose, confessing that she did not feel very well, but trying to make light of it, and when she could think o

ge came up to say that Mr. Livi

on the sands of her memory; and it was only by a strong effort that she could remember who he was-what he

thought for a while, and asked could he speak to you, he would wait if you were not at liberty but that he wished par

him away directly; to come, thinking of m

whose affection for her she thought was like a gourd, grown up in a n

Her only object was to dismiss her would-be suitor as speedily as possible. All feelin

e a step or two forward to meet her; and then stopped, pe

too early. But I have to leave Hamley in half an hou

e by his words; but, indeed, it was by the oppression of

towards the fireplace, and there stood, as if awaiting what he would say next. But he was overwhelmed by her aspect of illness. He almost forgot his own wishe

ent you from speaking to my father. I do not say anything of the kind of affection you can feel for me-me, whom

lder and more experienced than himself. He

e. That I can answer for most solemnly. It is possible, though it may not be a usual thing, for a man to feel so strongly attracted by the charms and qualities of a woman, even at first sight, as to feel sure that she, and she alone, can make his happiness. My folly consisted-there

wish for his speedy dismissal, she was obli

she said. "Wa

uched her at that moment, and she was on the point of s

can do. Only, may I write? May I venture to wri

g, and can be nothing to each other. I am engaged to be married. I shou

t as white as she was for the instant. After a mome

may I not? and try to prove that my words of regard were true, in a better and higher sense than

uickly upstairs, and took a strong dose of sal-volat

that has been closeted with you i

stening to Ellinor's

vingstone, who might have come at a better time to bid good-bye; and he had never dined here, had he? so I don't see any reason he had to come calling, and P. P. C.-ing, and your papa not up. So I said to Mrs. Jackson, 'I'll send and ask Mr. Wilkins, if you like,

dry throat huskily forming the inqui

odgson's together, she believed; and somehow she had got it into her head that Mr. Dunster might have missed his way in coming along Moor Lane, and might have slipped into the canal; so she just thought she would step up and ask Mr. Wilkins if they had left Mr. Hodgson's together, or if your papa had driven home. I asked he

did he

t been at home all night; but he said I was to tell Mrs. Jackson that he would go to the office as soon as he had had his breakfast, which he ordered to be sent up directly into his own room, and he had no doubt it would

e table, to hide her face in the first instance; but it served a second

e stock of hothouse and stove plants at Hartwell Priory. I must send J

be spared

o was sweeping up the newly-mown grass in the front of the house. She gave him hasty and unlimited directions, only seeming intent-if a

n the belt round the flower-garden, would be likely to go into the place. Miss Monro might wander round with a book in her hand; but she never noticed anything, and was shor

the room, and then stole out on tiptoe, fancying that Ellinor would sleep. Her eyes were, indeed, shut; but try as much as she would to be quiet, she was up in less than five minutes after Miss Monro had left the room, and walking up and down in all the restless agony of body that arises from an overstrained mind. But soon Miss Monro reappeared, bringing with her a dose of s

id her head in the cushions-hid it from memory, not from him. For in an instant she must have conjectured the interpretation he was likely to put upon her shrinking action, and she had turned towards him, and h

ou must lie still till I fetch you a litt

, they were not rending their garments and crying aloud. Mr. Wilkins seemed to have lost the power of careless action and speech, it is true. He wished to leave the room now his anxiety about his daughter was relieved, but hardly knew how to set about it. He was obliged to think about the veriest trifle, in order that by an effort of reason he might understand how he should have spoken or acted if he had been free from blood

Mr. Wilkins, has

Mr. Wilkins pumped the wo

business to Mr. Estcourt's. Perhaps you will be s

ard to the long, weary course of small lies, to be done and said, involved in that one mistaken action. Yet, while her father's words made her soul revolt, his appearance melted her heart, as she caught it, half turned away from her, neither looking straight at Miss Monro, nor at anything materially visible. His hollow sunken eye seemed to Ellinor to have a vision of the dead man before it. His cheek was livid and worn, and its healthy colouring gained b

nd inquire if Mr. Dunster is come

asked for his presence. Ellinor shut her eyes, and lay back in despair.

r father and Miss Monro stealing softly ou

f the sofa an

u knowest! Help me! There i

afterwards Miss Monro, coming in, found he

hey feared might end in delirium. To obviate this, her father sent far and wide

as if he never could tell, after such experience, from which side the awful proofs of the uncertainty of earth would appear, the terrible phantoms of unforeseen dread. Both rich and poor, town and country, sympathised with him. The rich cared not to press their claims, or their business, at suc

at any doctor even fancied might be of service, he came down as soon as there was the slightest hint of permission that Ellinor might see him. He over

hat stirred the sultry July air, a servant on velvet tiptoe had stolen up to Ellinor's open

edroom. And softly, softly Miss Monro stepped down the stairs, into the drawing-room; an

. May I just have one more look at her? I will not speak

ry ill, but we hope not dying. She was very ill, indeed, yesterday; very dangerously ill, I may say, but

to her infinite surprise, was kissed before sh

no harm, for I will tread as if on egg shells; and I have come so far-if I might just look

looked round reproachfully at him if even a nightingale sang, or an owl hooted in the trees

lay motionless on the white pillow, her face almost as white, her form almost as still. You might have heard a pin fall. After a while he moved to withdraw. Miss Monro, jealous of every sound, followed him, with steps all the more heavy because they were taken with so much care, down the stairs, back into

t Livingstone, Langham Vicarage, Yorkshire; you will promise me to write. If I could do anythin

t door, because she was afraid of his emotion overmastering him, and making him noisy in his demonstrati

w tap; she undid the fastenings, and

I came to ask about her

kely to care to hear anything this long whi

below his breath, and he turned

trength and appetite return. Her body seemed stronger than her will; for that would have indu

ir future course, though sad and sorrowful, would have been a simple and straightforward one to tread. But it was not for her to undo what was done, and to reveal the error and shame of a father. Only she, turning anew to God, in the solemn and quiet watches of the night, made a covenant, that in her conduct, her own personal individual life, she would act loyally and truthfully. And as for the future, and all the

at people were watching him with suspicious eyes, when nothing was further from their thoughts. For once let the "public" of any place be possessed by an idea, it is more difficult to dislodge it than any one imagines who has not tried. If Mr. Wilkins had gone into Hamley market-place, and proclaimed himself guilty of the m

boyhood, through his comely manhood, up to the present time, by all the people in Hamley, was an object of sympathy and respect to every one who saw him, as he passed by, old,

cheated and impoverished by his partner's delinquency, they thought it no wonder that he drank long and deep in the solitary evenings which he passed at home. It was not that he was without invitations. Every one came forward to testify t

llinor, he rather avoided than sought her presence, now that her consciousness and memory were restored. Nor did she ask for, or wish for him. Th