A Dark Night's Work

the spare bed-chamber made ready for him, late as it was, and in the absence of the master, who had taken a little holiday, now that Lent and Easter were over

half way over the stream, and it would be folly to turn back, for he had given nearly as much pain both to himself and Ellinor by this time as he should do by making the separation final.

er ran a

e disgrace. Now, it may be my fault, it may be in my temperament, to be anxious, above all things earthly, to obtain and possess a high reputation. I can only say that it is so, and leave you to blame me for my weakness as much as you like. But anything that might come in between me and this object would, I own, be ill tolerated by me; the very dread of such an obstacle intervening would paralyse me. I should become irritable, and, deep as my affection is, and always must be, towards you, I could not promise you a happy, peaceful life. I should be perpetually haunted by the idea of what might happen in the way of discovery and shame. I am the m

Parsonage and Ford Bank, the man asked if there was any answer. It was only custom; for he had not been desired to do so. Ellinor wen

y future time to blame yourself. I hope you will be happy and successful. I suppose I must never write to you again: but I shall always pray for you

m. She sealed the note, and gave it to the man. Then she sat down and waited for Miss Monro, wh

t I have a bad headache, and I knew you had a pleasant com

s if she could not hear any more; yet there was more to hear. Her father, as it turned out, was very ill, and had been so all night long; he had evidently had some kind of attack on the brain, whether apoplectic or paralytic it was for the doctors to decide. In the hurry and anxiety of this day of misery succeeding to misery, she almost forgot to wonder whether Ralph were still at the Parsonage-still in Hamley; it was not till the evening visit of the physician that she learnt that he had been seen by Dr. Moore as he was taking his place in the morning mail to London. Dr. Moore alluded to his name as to a thought that would cheer and comfort the fragile girl during her night-watch by her father's bedside. But Miss Monro stole out after the doctor to warn him off the subject for the future, crying bitte

moved home from the little Welsh inn where he had been staying when he was taken ill. Since his last attack, Mr. Wilkins's mind had been much affected; he often talked strangely and wildly; but he had rare intervals of quietness and full po

ut I think you will forgive a dying man. If you will come back and let all be as it used to be, I will make any apology you may require. If I go, she will be so very friendless; and I have looked to y

rain was clearer, the hand stronger. Ellinor kissed the letter, reverently folded it up, and laid it among he

he imagined himself the possessor of a handsome fortune, the bulk of which he bequeathed to his only child. By her mother's marriage-settlement, Ford Bank was held in trust for the children of the marriage; the trustees being Sir Frank Holster and Mr. Johnson. There we

sion were all the accounts, both personal and official. Mr. Johnson was hardly restrained by his compassion for the orphan from throwing up the executorship in disgust. Mr. Ness roused hi

e good lady did not quite acknowledge the great cause her pupil had for grieving-deserted by her lover, her father dead-but that she could not bear the outward signs of how much these sorrows had told on Ellinor. Her love for the poor girl was infinitely distressed by

was gone; when it was proved that all the legacies bequeathed by Mr. Wilkins not one farthing could ever be paid; when it came to be a question how far the beautiful pictures and oth

ng her head on the arm which rested on the table. She did not speak when he had ended his statement.

ve no doubt," said he, trying to account f

te stony face, and said slowly and fa

ver allow Mr. Dunster

. Your father himself always referred to the los

id, and relapsed into the old unbearable silence. Mr. Ness had undert

eeling"-he himself was choking; she was quite quiet-"but think what is to be done. You will have the rent of this

," said she, standing up sud

t-I can't have been clear-Ellinor, the rent o

ave this house. Oh, Mr. Ness

have heard it, for she quivered all over-"but leave this house you must. You must eat, and the rent of this house must pay for your food; you must dress, and there is nothing but the rent to clothe

Ellinor, fiercely. "I k

ive all moneys and benefits accruing from it"-he spoke gently, for he almost thought her he

at down,

ry kind, but you don't know all. I cannot st

er forehead, and withdrew without a

assed between them. "It is really quite sad to see how she gives way; I speak to her, an

on and myself I have a very painful duty to perform to you as well as to her. Mr. Wilkins has

oments; then she roused up and said, "I am but forty; I have a good fifteen years

editors may be thankful

Ell

house, which is hers by right of h

h will t

ed and twe

o a form prepared for whis

power in the matter, even were there any other course open to her. I can only say how glad, how hono

Corbet?" sai

aying that I regretted the breaking-off of an intercourse which had always been very pleasant to me, but that he must be aware that, with my intimacy with the family

nkful to see her on horseback again. It was o

he others; and it is not many young ladies who will be as content to h

rs spent there were stronger than the remembrance of the weeks of sorrow and care; and, while Ellinor's marriage had seemed a probable event, she had made many a little plan of returning to her native place, and obtaining what daily teaching she could there meet with, and the friends to whom she was now writing had promised her their aid. She thought that as Ellinor had to leave Ford Bank, a home at a distance might be more agreeable to

ervant who answered it by her sudden sharp desire to have the horses at the

e no one could notice or remark their talk. It was long since she had ridden, and much wonder was excited by the

at here she would talk over the plan Mr. Ness had proposed to her with Dixon, and he seemed to understand her without any words

, "they say I mus

ll I've heerd say i' the tow

hardly any money-my poor dear Dixon, you won't hav

there, for the taking it would ha' seemed too like-" Blood-money, he was going to say,

But oh, Dixon, what must I do? They will make me leave Ford

e, anxiously. "I've many a time heerd 'em say as i

that; but you know,

imes on my mind, waking, and I think ther

the shrubbery. Oh! Dixon, I feel as if it was sure to be found out! Oh! Dixon, I c

ain that it had always assumed of late years w

in the house and out of it, and I'd beg the trustees, or whatever they's called, to be very particular, if I was you, and not have a thing touched either in the house, or the gardens, or the meadows, or the stables. I think, wi' a word from you, they'd maybe

ember how I shall want a friend when you're gone, to advise me as you have d

heart as is got to feel so heavy; and as for that matter, so is yours, I'll be bound. And it's a comfort to us both if we can serve

p before his fancy the time, thirty years ago, when he had first entered the elder Mr. Wilkins's service as stable-lad, and pretty Molly, the scul