A Dark Night's Work

n have died. And the afternoon came when she left her room. Miss Monro would gladly have

of the house on the flower-garden, which she had felt in all her illness as a ghastly pressure lying within sight of those very

r use, by some kindly old maid, out of Hamley, she still petitioned that it mi

instead of Fletcher the servant who usually went. But she checked all demonstration of feeling; although it was

l! Cross, too, which she

sight of the windows, she asked him to

poorly," she said, t

a bit. All my fifty years afore were but as a forenoon of child's play to that night. Measter, too-I could a-bear a good deal, but measter cu

or caught the infection, and cried outright, sobbed like a child, even while she held out her little

" was all he coul

does not like to be reminded of that, even by seeing me. He tries never to be alone with m

ould break; and now it was D

ster all but pushed me out of his way this morning, without never a word. But I were an old fool for telling ye. And I've really forgotten why I told Fletcher I'd drag ye a bit about to-day. Th' gardener is beginning for to wonder as you don't want to see th' annuals and bedding-out things as you were so parti

rden. Ellinor bit her lips to keep in the cry of repugnance t

feel it above a bit, when he puts out his hand as if to keep me off, and I only going to speak to him about Clipper's knees; though I'll own I had wondered many a day when I was to have the good-morrow master never missed sin' he were a boy till-Well! a

o to drown his own cares, which lay heavier on his heart than he could say. But he thought himself rewarded b

tronger, he did not scruple to express curiosity respecting the details, never doubting but that she was perfectly acquainted with much that he wanted to know; although he had too much delicacy to question her on the point which was most important of all in his eyes

be able to make all these inquiries personally. Before the end of the long vacation he had hoped to marry Ellinor: that was the time which had been planned by them when they had met in the early spr

ord Bank, this time as a visitor to Ellinor's ho

y common visitor, any morning-caller. He stiffened himself up into a moment's indignant coldness of manner. But it vanished in an instant when, on the door being opened, he saw Ellinor standing holding by the table, looking for his appearance with almost panting anxiety. He thought of nothing then but her evident weakness, her changed looks, for which no account of her illness had prepared him. For she was deadly white, lips and all; and her dark eyes seemed unnaturally enlarged, while the caves in which they were set wer

d so she went on, cooing out words over him, and stroking his hair with her thin fingers; while he

ome delicate-coloured muslin dress; her face was slightly flushed, and had the tints of a wild rose; her lips kept pale and trembling with involuntary motion, it is true; and as the lovers stood together, hand in hand, by the window, he was aware of a

of it real, some of it assumed. He talked volubly to him, taking little or no notice of Ellinor, who dropped into the background, and sat down on the sofa by Miss Monro; for on this day they were all to dine together. Ralph Corbet

. He was quite sure that Mr. Wilkins was anxious to spare his daughter any exertion beyond that-to which, indeed, she seemed scarely equal-of sitting at the head of the table. And the more her father talked-so fine an observer was Mr. Corbet-the more silent and depressed Ellinor appeared. But by-and-by he

uency, this happy choice of epithets, was the one thing he should fail in when he began to enter into the more active career of his profession. But after some time spent in listening, and admiring, with this little feeling of envy lurking in the background, Mr. Corbet became aware of Mr. Wilkins's increasing confusion of ideas, and rather unnatural merriment; and, with a sudden revulsion from admiration to disgust, he rose up to go into the library, where Ellinor and Miss Monro were sitting. Mr. Wilkins accompanied him, laughing and talking somewhat loudly. Was Ellinor aware of her

with their crimson sails, lazily floating down the river, making ripples on the glassy opal surface of the water. They did not talk very much; Ellinor seemed d

e from this wonder, Ellinor went early to bed. Mr. Wilkins was gone, no one knew where, and Ralph and Miss Monro were left to a half-hour's tête-à-tête. He thought he could easily account for Ellinor's languor, if, indeed, she had perceived as much as he had done of her father's state, when

r look them straight in the face; how he always seemed to be hiding something that he did not want to have known; how he had drawn a large sum (exact quantity unknown) out of the county bank only the day before he left Hamley, doubtless in preparation for his escape; how some one had told Mr. Wilkins he had seen a man just like Dunster lurking about the docks at

is proceedings, and account for the miss

tradesman in the City-a cousin, I think, and he could give no information in any way. He knew that about ten years ago Mr. Dunster ha

lf smiling; "shows malice prepense with a vengeance." But

d it as a piece of loyalty to the Wilkinses, whom Mr. Dunster had injured (as she t

story," said Mr

bed over his baldness, as if he were ashamed of it, and his eyes that never looked at you, and his way of eatin

rbet s

money that is missing-but, to be sure, money in itself is a temptation-only he, being a partner, was in a fair way of mak

uld rather bear the loss, I am sure, and all this trouble and care

is so sufficiently punished as to deter others from entering upon such courses. But I have little d

and in the county papers, and offered a reward o

unds was t

e, poor darling! fell a-trembling, and said, 'I would give all I have-I would give my life.' And

change of scene. Her nerves have

decided it for her, or else she would fain have stayed away-she would hardly acknowledge why, even to hers

along between the rows of waving golden corn ripe for the harvest. Mr. Corbet gathered blue and scarlet flowers,

ew in the gallery, right before their master. Ellinor was "hardening her heart" not to listen, not to hearken to what might disturb the wound which was just being skinned over, when she caught Dixon's face up above. He looked worn,

life was to be trusted. But the case must be stated in an impersonal form. No one, not even her husband, must ever know anything against her father from her. Ellinor was so artless herself, that she ha

hat a girl was eng

that, with you by me," sa

to her-we will call it a brother-who had done something wrong, that would bring disgrace upon the whole family if it was known-though, indeed, it might not

out telling him her

uld not. She might not

acts there are-more plainly before me before I can give an opini

ry to plan out what I should do, or what I ought to do, if such and such a thing happened,

girl who is engaged, and who has the im

ittle annoyed at having betrayed a

ilent, m

ong in it," said she

happened which has suggested these questions. Are you putting yourself in the place of any one about

, and I ought not to have said anything abo

r towards betraying something of her own individual interest in the question she had asked. Ralph had been more struck even by her manner than her words. He was sure that somethi

fairs-embarrassment which was generally attributed to Dunster's disappearance with a good large sum belonging to the firm in his possession. But Mr. Corbet thought otherwise; he had accustomed himself to seek out the baser motives for men's conduct, and to call the result of th

r. Ness interrupted us yesterday in a very int

head still more intently ben

I reco

race hung over him-I mean, over the family with whom he was going to connect himself. Of

be something she ought not to te

orts of cases. Unless I knew mo

ct. Ellinor laid down her brush, and covered her face wit

am the girl, you are the lover, and possible shame hangs over my father, if something-o

to his to read his expression aright. But after that his presence of mind came in aid. He took her in his arms and kissed her; murmuring fond words of sympathy, and promises of faith, nay, even of greater love than before, since greater need she might have of tha