eyeturned
in
the
same
moment
upon
Laura
,
but
she
was
looking
straight
forward
,
as
innocent
as
a
bird
.
He
perceived
,
however
,
that
young
Bicester
was
swallowing
a
scalding
cup
of
coffee
,
and
that
lounging
apparently
from
one
window
to
another
,
he
silently
opened
the
door
,
and
disappeared
.
Leslie
,
with
no
attempt
at
mystery
,
went
out
directly
after
.
The
evening
was
growing
very
dusky
,
but
he
saw
the
man
he
deemed
his
rival
,
entering
the
avenue
,
and
hastily
followed
him
.
Sir
Peter
was
alone
;
and
that
he
was
alone
,
surprised
Sir
Peter
.
But
that
the
person
who
joined
him
should
be
Leslie
,
thoroughly
annoyed
him
,
and
Leslie
on
his
part
was
equally
angry
at
finding
the
young
soldier
thus
apparently
awaiting
a
rendezvous
.
The
one
overtook
the
other
,
and
they
walked
together
a
few
yards
in
silence
.
“
Are
you
going
into
the
park
?
”
said
Sir
Peter
,
at
last
.
“
No
;
are
you
?
”
“
No.
”
Again
there
was
silence
;
then
Sir
Peter
began
again
.
“
I
never
knew
you
choose
this
walk
before
.
”
“
Did
not
you
?
”
“
No.
”
Sir
Peter
shook
the
ashes
from
his
cigar
bitterly
,
and
then
turned
suddenly
,
and
walked
in
the
opposite
direction
.
Leslie
,
who
seldom
smoked
,
took
out
a
cigar
,
in
order
to
give
himself
some
reason
for
being
here
,
and
puffing
with
undue
vigour
,
excited
a
great
smoke
,
and
marched
to
the
end
of
the
avenue
;
here
he
turned
,
and
about
mid‐way
,
the
two
young
men
met
,
and
crossed
each
other
,
each
sending
out
a
large
gale
of
tobacco
,
and
looking
as
happy
as
he
could
.
How
long
this
was
to
go
on
,
Leslie
did
not
like
to
conjecture
but
at
all
events
he
did
not
intend
to
leave
the
ground
while
his
rival
occupied
it
,
even
though
they
should
walk
thus
till
morning
.
Sir
Peter
it
seemed
was
not
so
persevering
,
for
before
they
came
across
each
other
a
third
time
,
he
stepped
on
one
side
of
the
path
,
and
left
the
avenue
by
a
wicket
which
led
by
a
back
way
to
the
house
.
Leslie
immediately
stood
still
and
flung
his
cigar
as
far
as
its
weight
would
carry
it
,
and
then
collected
his
thoughts
with
more
form
than
the
presence
of
Sir
Peter
had
allowed
.
“
It
is
too
plain
,
that
he
expected
her
,
”
he
said
to
himself
;
“
then
he
has
already
met
her
.
Yet
I
warned
her
—
besought
her
—
but
he
is
a
villain
,
availing
himself
of
her
untaught
,
guileless
,
nature
—
inexperienced
,
bewildered
,
humble
as
she
is
!
If
he
knew
my
claim
upon
her
,
she
would
be
safe
.
Yet
impossible
!
shall
the
silly
coxcomb
know
that
it
is
my
promised
wife
,
whom
he
has
hoped
would
come
at
midnight
to
meet
him
?
Impossible
!
He
is
going
,
thank
heaven
!
to
the
other
side
of
the
world
...
...
tempest
,
fever
,
sword
,
and
shot
,
pursue
him
!
”
Thus
he
stormed
within
,
standing
beside
one
of
the
stern
fir‐stems
,
which
threw
a
steadfast
shadow
on
the
turf
from
its
branches
between
the
moonlight
and
the
ground
.
Nearly
half
an
hour
passed
,
in
which
time
Sir
Peter
felt
fully
persuaded
that
his
rival
must
have
been
tired
of
his
suspicion
,
and
have
left
the
avenue
.
He
himself
had
been
to
the
saloon
,
where
still
the
fair
Elinor
was
not
,
and
with
some
hope
,
rekindled
from
the
malicious
eyes
of
Laura
,
he
returned
again
to
try
his
fortune
.
Slowly
he
paced
down
the
avenue
,
and
failed
to
perceive
the
dark
figure
beneath
the
fir‐tree
.
As
he
came
on
,
it
advanced
suddenly
from
the
shadow
.
Sir
Peter
started
slightly
.
“
I
forgot
something
,
”
said
he
.
“
Did
you
,
”
said
Leslie
.
“
Yes
!
”
said
Sir
Peter
,
and
again
they
passed
each
other
,
and
Sir
Peter
proceeding
to
the
end
of
the
avenue
,
opened
the
gate
,
and
went
finally
out
.
“
What
right
has
he
to
act
dragon
?
”
said
the
young
man
,
as
he
returned
home
.
Next
morning
,
Tuesday
,
Leslie
and
Miss
Chanson
were
walking
together
through
the
garden
to
the
conservatory
.
Elinor
looking
from
her
window
saw
them
,
and
was
pleased
that
her
angry
guardianess
should
be
in
company
with
one
who
she
felt
would
speak
even
better
of
her
than
she
deserved
.
So
warbling
some
low
notes
with
her
melodious
throat
,
she
turned
away
to
put
in
order
part
of
her
simple
wardrobe
,
with
skilful
fingers
well
versed
in
the
arts
of
hemming
and
darning
.
“
She
told
me
,
”
said
Leslie
,
to
Miss
Chanson
,
“
that
you
sent
her
to
her
room
last
night
.
”
Laura
started
,
not
knowing
how
much
of
their
interview
had
been
repeated
,
and
looked
Leslie
inquiringly
in
the
face
.
“
If
I
did
...
...
”
she
began
,
and
paused
.
“
Tell
me
one
thing
,
”
said
Leslie
,
“
did
you
do
so
from
any
idea
that
it
was
better
not
to
leave
her
walking
alone
?
”
“
Why
do
you
ask
me
?
”
said
Laura
,
quite
at
ease
again
;
“
what
does
it
matter
?
”
“
No
,
no
,
it
does
not
matter
...
...
very
much
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
only
is
it
possible
,
do
you
think
that
she
intended
to
join
...
...
that
is
...
...
to
meet
...
...
”
“
Only
that
could
have
justified
me
,
”
said
Laura
,
candidly
.
Leslie
was
silent
.
“
I
told
you
long
ago
,
”
said
Laura
,
at
last
,
“
that
I
hoped
your
confidence
was
not
misplaced
.
”
“
No
,
no
,
it
is
not
,
”
said
Leslie
,
“
but
she
has
been
in
an
unnatural
atmosphere
.
She
came
here
full
of
innocent
mistakes
,
and
we
undeceived
her
too
hastily
;
she
has
lost
the
landmark
for
all
minor
proprieties
.
”
“
Then
I
wonder
,
”
said
Laura
,
“
that
she
should
think
it
necessary
to
conceal
them
,
by
such
complicated
statements
.
”
Leslie
again
was
silent
.
“
She
is
bewildered
,
”
said
Leslie
,
at
last
,
“
by
the
admiration
she
excites
;
I
have
not
flattering
words
so
freely
at
command
as
others
,
and
per‐
haps
,
she
is
better
amused
by
those
who
have
them
,
than
by
me
.
”
“
That’s
quite
impossible
,
”
said
Laura
,
very
quickly
;
then
as
if
frightened
at
what
she
herself
had
said
,
she
added
hastily
,
“
perhaps
she
wants
character
,
she
is
like
most
women
...
...
”
“
Oh
no
!
”
said
Leslie
,
sighing
,
“
she
has
a
firm
purpose
,
hidden
under
her
soft
exterior
.
I
will
talk
to
your
brother
the
moment
we
are
alone
,
on
Thursday
,
and
I
will
make
her
mine
before
any
other
candidate
dare
come
between
my
treasure
and
me
.
”
It
was
now
Laura
who
was
silent
.
To
hear
a
purpose
announced
which
directly
contradicts
the
secret
object
of
one’s
endeavours
and
desires
,
is
like
a
blow
struck
right
upon
the
heart
.
Why
cannot
the
blinded
eye
of
our
companion
see
and
choose
the
path
which
we
perceive
so
plainly
is
the
one
fit
for
him
?
Leslie
was
out
of
spirits
,
and
when
he
had
gone
through
the
flowers
of
the
conservatory
mechanically
with
Laura
and
the
gardener
,
he
walked
back
with
her
,
till
they
came
in
sight
of
the
house
again
,
and
then
turned
into
the
park
,
and
wandered
away
alone
,
whither
he
did
not
care
.
Laura
proposed
twenty
things
in
order
to
entangle
Elinor
with
her
cousin
,
but
was
baffled
in
all
.
Elinor
would
not
take
a
lesson
in
billiards
,
would
not
learn
to
sit
the
pony
,
would
not
teach
Sir
Peter
a
duet
,
would
not
lend
him
a
book
of
her
own
—
she
declined
all
,
even
before
they
were
fully
proposed
;
and
at
last
,
upon
the
arrival
of
some
morning
visitors
,
attached
herself
to
the
mother
of
the
party
,
who
did
not
choose
to
walk
far
,
and
never
left
her
side
the
rest
of
the
morning
.
Laura
did
not
venture
upon
any
scheme
for
the
evening
,
but
she
saw
with
bitter
pleasure
,
that
Leslie
,
by
seeming
accident
sat
by
another
than
Elinor
at
dinner
,
and
that
when
they
were
all
assembled
in
the
drawing‐room
,
he
and
Elinor
seemed
to
want
subjects
of
conversation
,
and
were
grave
and
embarrassed
in
place
of
that
joyful
glee
which
Leslie’s
face
had
so
often
assumed
,
to
Laura’s
anguish
,
when
listening
to
,
and
talking
with
Elinor
.
Wednesday
was
come
,
and
now
Laura
had
her
last
blow
to
strike
,
the
one
that
must
undo
her
if
it
did
not
succeed
.
There
was
a
feeling
in
the
house
about
seeing
the
last
of
Sir
Peter
,
since
after
to‐day
,
he
could
be
seen
and
heard
no
more
.
He
was
not
to
go
shooting
alone
,
nor
to
take
a
solitary
gallop
;
he
was
to
walk
with
Laura
and
the
rest
,
he
was
to
visit
the
stables
with
Mr.
Chanson
.
Even
if
those
who
were
not
to
be
travellers
had
something
better
to
do
,
there
would
be
time
for
that
to‐morrow
,
when
there
would
be
no
more
time
available
for
Sir
Peter
.
Mr.
Chanson
,
Leslie
,
and
Sir
Peter
,
were
all
to
set
out
early
on
the
morrow
.
They
were
to
drive
together
to
the
neighbouring
town
,
and
there
to
separate
,
the
two
first
to
pursue
their
way
to
Mr.
Chanson’s
property
,
and
the
young
soldier
to
go
on
to
London
where
his
final
preparations
would
be
made
.
Leslie
,
in
a
doubtful
state
of
mind
,
was
looking
out
for
offence
and
cause
of
unhappiness
;
Elinor
,
in
an
humble
one
,
was
unconsciously
giving
it
.
She
was
accustomed
to
the
discipline
of
a
conventual
school
education
,
and
had
learned
a
degree
of
patience
,
which
made
her
take
Leslie’s
absence
as
an
unavoidable
trouble
,
of
which
she
must
not
complain
.
He
also
had
been
accustomed
to
the
natural
teaching
of
school
,
but
had
acquired
a
different
lesson
,
for
his
spirit
had
been
one
of
those
which
make
others
yield
to
them
,
and
had
gratified
every
wish
as
it
arose
.
Her
meekness
,
therefore
,
in
resigning
him
for
a
certain
number
of
days
seemed
indifference
in
his
eyes
,
mystified
as
he
was
by
Laura
;
and
though
he
loved
her
the
more
anxiously
for
her
coldness
,
he
imagined
that
it
gave
him
greater
reason
to
suspect
that
another
occupied
part
of
his
place
in
her
heart
.
Elinor
felt
there
was
something
wrong
,
though
she
knew
not
what
,
and
Leslie
was
conscious
of
a
restraint
,
unlike
those
happy
days
—
the
few
days
—
when
he
and
she
wandered
among
the
fields
and
woods
.
“
So
now
it
is
come
to
the
last
evening
,
”
said
Sir
Peter
,
as
he
and
Laura
sat
together
an
hour
before
dinner
,
in
her
own
apartment
.
“
I
have
had
a
very
pleasant
visit
,
and
I
shall
not
forget
it
.
”
“
And
what
remembrances
do
you
carry
away
from
our
nun
?
”
said
Laura
.
“
Oh
!
hang
the
little
nun
,
I
am
tired
of
her
;
I
can
make
nothing
of
her
,
and
really
I
believe
our
meetings
have
all
been
either
my
own
doing
,
or
accident
.
She
cares
for
nobody
but
Leslie
.
”
“
She
does
not
care
for
him
,
”
said
Laura
;
“
he
is
half
offended
,
that
she
should
take
his
departure
so
quietly
.
”
“
Did
he
tell
you
so
?
”
“
No
—
not
in
so
many
words
—
but
words
are
not
always
necessary
to
explain
meanings
.
”
“
You
are
so
clever
,
Laura
!
you
see
everything
.
”
“
Women
have
that
faculty
,
you
know
.
Now
,
I
would
venture
to
lay
a
wager
,
that
if
this
last
day
,
you
were
to
write
,
soliciting
one
last
interview
,
the
interview
would
be
granted
,
or
you
would
get
a
kind
excuse
for
not
granting
it
.
”
“
Oh
!
it
is
too
much
trouble
.
”
“
Where
is
the
trouble
?
there
is
pen
and
ink
,
and
I
will
tell
you
what
to
write
.
”
“
But
it
is
hardly
fair
.
”
“
Fair
indeed
!
as
if
any
measures
were
to
be
kept
with
her
.
What
has
she
done
by
me
?
”
“
You
!
oh
,
I
can’t
keep
in
my
head
that
you
can
possibly
have
any
regard
for
a
person
who
does
not
adore
you
.
”
“
No
,
it
is
most
unworthy
,
”
said
Laura
.
“
I
will
do
better
...
...
there
,
there
...
...
shake
him
off
—
forget
him
.
But
that
little
girl
I
should
like
to
unmask
,
nevertheless
;
come
play
out
the
play
,
write
her
a
little
love‐letter
.
”
Laura
now
took
her
portfolio
on
her
knees
,
drew
the
little
writing
table
close
,
and
laughing
and
coquetting
,
composed
a
note
which
amused
Sir
Peter
,
and
which
he
copied
at
Laura’s
side
,
and
promised
to
remit
to
Elinor
.
Laura
agreed
that
he
should
do
so
,
but
just
as
he
was
leaving
the
room
,
recalled
him
,
and
told
him
to
trust
it
to
her
care
,
for
that
she
could
manage
it
much
better
than
he
.
Sir
Peter
tossed
her
the
note
,
which
she
caught
in
a
very
pretty
attitude
,
and
kissed
the
tips
of
her
fingers
to
him
as
he
paused
at
the
door
,
to
give
her
a
last
look
.
It
was
ten
o’clock
that
night
when
a
woman
wrapped
over
her
head
and
whole
figure
in
a
cloak
,
brushed
by
Sir
Peter
,
as
he
walked
in
the
avenue
,
and
as
she
passed
thrust
a
note
into
his
hand
.
He
caught
the
hand
that
gave
it
,
but
it
told
nothing
except
that
it
was
enveloped
in
a
glove
.
Rather
than
be
detained
by
him
,
the
hand
slipped
out
of
the
glove
,
and
the
figure
darted
into
the
thick
shade
,
and
disappeared
.
The
glove
was
merely
a
concealment
for
the
hand
,
for
it
had
plainly
been
held
loosely
,
as
a
measure
prepared
beforehand
to
avoid
detention
;
but
it
was
a
woman’s
glove
,
of
delicate
size
,
and
was
finished
with
a
plaited
ribbon
,
such
as
Elinor
frequently
employed
herself
in
fashioning
.
Sir
Peter
laughed
as
he
recognised
it
,
and
placing
it
in
his
bosom
,
proceeded
by
the
light
of
the
moon
to
decipher
,
though
with
great
difficulty
,
these
words
—
“
I
cannot
come
to‐night
,
Mr.
Leslie
forbids
me
to
go
out
.
—
ELINOR
LADYLIFT
.
”
Poor
Elinor’s
ill
starred
billet
!
CHAPTER
X
.
SEE
that
man
walking
up
and
down
his
room
all
night
,
except
when
at
times
he
flung
himself
on
the
sofa
,
burying
his
head
in
his
clenched
hands
.
The
little
shred
of
paper
lay
sometimes
on
the
table
,
sometimes
on
the
floor
,
trampled
on
,
crumpled
,
torn
;
again
spread
out
,
and
read
with
unabating
fury
.
Beside
it
lay
the
glove
,
which
together
with
the
note
had
been
brought
to
him
by
Laura
,
and
which
with
scarce
any
words
she
pressed
upon
him
as
the
tokens
of
Elinor’s
falsity
.
He
saw
them
and
believed
;
they
seemed
to
him
to
indicate
that
the
meetings
between
Elinor
and
the
young
soldier
,
which
he
had
persuaded
himself
were
the
effects
of
accident
,
or
of
mere
momentary
thoughtlessness
,
were
parts
of
a
long‐continued
understanding
between
them
,
and
that
to
Elinor
they
had
become
so
habitual
as
to
make
an
apology
necessary
,
when
she
was
unable
to
keep
the
appointment
.
How
could
Leslie
doubt
?
there
was
her
handwriting
,
there
was
the
glove
of
her
fine
hand
—
false
hand
,
false
heart
!
—
her
he
had
trusted
then
in
vain
!
the
innocence
by
which
he
had
remodelled
his
own
intentions
,
did
not
exist
.
Laura
had
stabbed
him
with
this
poisoned
dagger
,
and
left
it
to
work
out
her
own
ends
;
and
frantic
indeed
was
the
effect
of
the
wound
she
had
inflicted
.
As
soon
as
day
dawned
,
Leslie
left
the
house
,
and
continued
his
agitated
walk
up
and
down
the
garden
where
he
knew
,
by
many
a
morning’s
experience
,
it
was
Elinor’s
practise
to
walk
before
the
breakfast
hour
,
and
where
of
late
he
had
usually
joined
her
.
The
cold
October
air
chilled
his
frame
,
the
heavy
rime
,
almost
frost
,
weighed
down
the
remaining
flowers
and
the
dripping
grass
;
the
sun
,
long
hidden
after
it
had
left
the
horizon
,
struggled
with
the
mist
that
filled
the
whole
atmosphere
.
It
was
late
before
the
day
became
as
light
as
the
hour
warranted
;
and
the
savage
impatience
of
Leslie
grew
almost
to
delirium
.
At
last
,
a
window
which
opened
to
the
ground
from
one
of
the
sitting‐rooms
was
heard
to
rise
,
he
stood
still
,
partly
hidden
by
the
trunk
of
a
cedar
,
and
saw
shrouded
in
a
gray
cloak
,
and
a
hood
concealing
her
face
,
Elinor
step
into
the
garden
,
and
move
along
the
walk
to
his
place
.
He
instantly
came
forward
,
and
silently
seizing
her
arm
,
saying
no
word
,
answering
no
look
,
dragged
her
forward
with
a
hand
which
she
felt
violently
trembling
,
nor
stopped
till
they
were
in
the
wood
together
,
deeply
hidden
,
as
the
words
they
had
to
say
together
required
hiding
.
Then
letting
go
her
arm
from
one
hand
,
and
opening
the
other
,
he
showed
her
the
little
note
and
the
glove
,
which
it
had
clenched
as
they
came
along
.
“
Your’s
?
”
he
said
,
fixing
his
bloodshot
eyes
on
her
face
.
“
Oh
,
it
is
my
glove
which
I
had
lost
,
”
said
Elinor
,
holding
out
her
hand
for
it
,
and
looking
up
at
Leslie
,
perplexed
,
whether
to
smile
or
yield
to
terror
.
“
And
where
,
and
how
did
you
lose
it
?
”
said
Leslie
;
“
tell
me
,
explain
...
...
confess
that
...
...
”
“
How
can
I
tell
?
”
said
Elinor
,
frightened
,
and
with
a
trembling
voice
.
“
No
;
in
one
sense
you
cannot
tell
,
shame
forbids
—
your
false
nature
forbids
—
can
you
tell
me
this
?
Did
that
glove
deliver
that
note
?
look
at
it
.
”
Elinor
looked
at
the
little
paper
in
his
fierce
hand
,
and
recognised
the
first
words
of
the
billet
she
had
written
months
before
.
“
Leslie
,
”
she
said
,
“
I
do
not
know
,
how
should
I
?
it
is
so
long
ago
.
”
“
Silence
!
”
cried
Leslie
,
“
you
can
deceive
me
no
longer
;
no
affected
innocence
,
no
well‐continued
deceit
can
perplex
or
blind
me
now
.
This
is
then
your
writing
?
”
“
Yes
,
”
said
Elinor
,
earnestly
looking
in
his
face
,
and
saying
the
one
true
word
,
for
she
had
nothing
else
her
nature
permitted
her
to
say
.
Then
his
fury
burst
out
—
“
Devil
!
angel
!
woman
!
”
cried
he
.
“
You
have
failed
then
to
deceive
me
!
you
confess
—
we
are
even
again
.
I
was
on
the
point
of
believing
in
virtue
—
you
fail
—
I
am
free
,
falsest
,
hardest
,
perfidious
woman
...
...
”
Elinor
interrupted
him
.
“
What
harm
have
I
done
?
did
not
you
tell
me
I
might
write
to
you
.
”
“
To
me
!
oh
,
well‐acted
innocence
!
yes
,
I
was
so
cunning
.
I
thought
to
have
surpassed
you
in
cunning
;
would
I
had
...
...
any
crime
better
than
to
have
been
smiled
at
till
I
was
a
fool
,
and
for
an
instant
to
have
been
held
in
your
mocking
snares
—
but
it
is
over
—
seek
your
other
victim
,
if
you
will
,
follow
your
soldier
if
he
will
have
you
!
I
have
my
eyes
open
at
last
.
”
“
As
I
live
and
stand
here
,
Leslie
,
there
is
no
human
being
who
cares
for
me
,
or
whom
I
care
for
,
but
you
.
”
“
Words
!
sweetest
words
!
”
cried
Leslie
,
“
falser
than
sweet
,
and
crueller
than
false
,
were
I
not
free
.
But
they
are
nothing
to
me
now
;
no
,
nor
those
;
tears
,
nor
those
clasped
hands
,
nor
that
well‐acted
fear
—
no
,
no
,
no.
”
“
Leslie
!
”
cried
Elinor
,
laying
her
hand
upon
his
arm
.
He
caught
hold
of
her
hand
,
and
crushed
it
in
his
,
like
one
whose
nerves
have
escaped
control
,
and
are
contracting
upon
the
object
that
excites
them
with
mechanical
fury
;
then
his
hold
relaxing
,
he
flung
her
hand
away
,
and
uttering
a
groan
,
which
at
the
same
time
he
struggled
to
repress
,
lie
turned
,
and
rushed
from
her
sight
.
Elinor
was
changed
to
stone
,
by
all
that
the
few
minutes
just
passed
contained
;
she
gazed
on
the
blank
space
where
Leslie
had
been
,
and
had
said
such
killing
words
;
she
thought
of
herself
,
entering
the
garden
but
now
,
about
,
as
she
believed
,
to
converse
with
her
lover
,
and
part
from
him
for
a
few
days
,
soon
never
to
part
again
;
and
could
by
no
means
realise
that
his
love
had
turned
to
fury
,
that
he
had
said
he
was
about
to
leave
her
for
ever
.
Her
mind
and
body
seemed
paralyzed
,
and
when
at
last
she
recovered
strength
of
both
,
enough
to
move
from
the
place
where
she
was
,
she
did
but
return
with
benumbed
steps
to
her
own
room
,
and
there
sinking
upon
the
floor
,
lay
crushed
and
bowed
together
,
sobbing
as
though
her
comfortless
heart
must
break
.
The
guilty
cause
of
all
this
woe
,
once
more
glittering
in
outside
show
,
like
some
splendid
serpent
,
was
descending
in
apparent
peace
to
the
morning
meal
;
but
her
bosom
also
burned
with
anxiety
,
and
she
trembled
internally
at
the
thought
of
what
aspects
she
might
meet
.
Might
she
not
there
see
,
perhaps
,
Leslie
and
Elinor
,
with
all
explained
between
them
,
and
united
for
ever
against
her
.
Might
she
not
see
Leslie
frowning
and
despising
her
,
Elinor
sheltered
by
him
against
all
future
malice
,
or
should
she
see
them
alienated
from
each
other
,
and
she
herself
successful
.
She
opened
the
breakfast‐room
door
,
with
a
hesitation
unseen
on
her
serene
face
,
and
glanced
round
;
but
her
conjectures
were
all
wrong
,
for
although
all
else
were
assembled
,
the
two
were
not
there
.
Again
her
heart
bounded
with
fear
,
that
they
might
be
together
,
too
angry
to
keep
up
any
appearance
of
good
will
with
her
;
and
after
enduring
the
doubt
and
anxiety
for
a
few
decent
minutes
,
she
affected
to
be
anxious
what
could
have
become
of
Elinor
,
and
left
the
room
to
look
for
her
.
When
she
beheld
the
young
girl
,
she
knew
that
her
artifices
had
succeeded
,
and
triumph
filled
her
heart
.
Elinor
,
abandoned
by
what
was
all
the
world
to
her
,
and
terrified
at
her
own
solitude
,
no
sooner
saw
a
familiar
face
,
than
she
rose
and
flung
herself
on
Laura’s
shoulder
,
straining
her
in
her
embrace
with
inarticulate
mourning
.
Laura
thought
of
her
own
fine
lace
and
muslin
,
which
Elinor
was
deranging
;
and
raising
her
,
so
as
to
stand
free
of
the
sorrowing
girl
,
asked
her
,
with
a
voice
as
kindly
as
she
could
make
it
,
the
cause
of
her
distress
.
Elinor’s
explanation
would
hardly
have
made
anything
clear
,
had
not
Laura
possessed
already
a
more
perfect
knowledge
of
the
circumstances
than
she
could
receive
.
The
single
point
she
cared
about
was
,
what
had
become
of
Leslie
,
and
Elinor
could
only
repeat
that
he
had
flung
her
off
,
and
rushed
away
through
the
thick
wood
,
where
she
soon
had
lost
that
last
sight
of
him
.
“
Last
indeed
!
”
said
Laura
;
“
after
such
a
parting
,
there
can
be
no
reconciliation
.
What
have
you
done
Elinor
?
”
“
Indeed
,
indeed
,
I
have
done
nothing
!
he
is
too
cruel
to
me
.
”
“
Yes
,
too
cruel
;
he
has
been
very
hard
on
you
;
he
should
have
overlooked
what
faults
your
ignorance
of
the
world
led
you
into
.
Think
of
him
no
more
,
give
him
up
as
he
has
given
you
.
”
“
I
must
die
before
I
do
that
!
”
said
Elinor
.
“
Nay
,
nay
,
dear
child
;
dying
is
not
the
thing
in
question
.
Here
,
dear
,
take
a
little
water
...
...
can’t
you
?
well
,
lie
down
,
or
sit
down
,
I
will
come
again
to
you
—
but
they
are
all
waiting
now
—
I
will
bring
you
a
cup
of
tea
.
”
And
Laura
departed
,
going
down
stairs
elastically
,
and
filled
with
the
image
of
her
rival
,
whom
she
had
left
behind
humiliated
,
robbed
of
her
beauty
by
tears
,
and
abandoned
by
the
man
who
once
abandoned
Laura
for
her
.
She
made
the
excuse
of
headache
,
and
having
over‐walked
herself
,
about
Elinor
,
and
now
if
Leslie
had
but
come
in
,
would
have
been
perfectly
happy
;
but
his
absence
raised
new
fears
in
her
heart
,
that
in
giving
up
one
,
he
would
not
renew
his
allegiance
to
the
other
,
nay
,
might
commit
some
rash
act
,
her
fear
and
her
love
began
to
dread
what
.
Breakfast
was
nearly
over
when
a
note
was
brought
to
her
brother
at
the
other
end
of
the
table
;
he
opened
and
read
it
to
himself
,
and
Laura
all
the
time
was
obliged
to
keep
smiling
at
her
cousin
,
who
sat
beside
her
,
for
his
last
breakfast
in
her
society
,
but
whose
words
at
this
time
conveyed
no
meaning
to
her
at
all
.
“
What
have
you
got
there
,
Lawrence
?
”
she
said
,
at
last
;
“
you
look
perplexed
?
”
“
This
fellow
Leslie
,
”
said
he
;
“
he
writes
me
word
that
a
messenger
came
for
him
from
home
,
and
he
is
obliged
to
set
off
at
a
moment’s
warning
.
Who
saw
any
messenger
?
”
“
No
,
sir
,
”
said
the
servant
,
who
was
waiting
at
breakfast
.
“
Who
saw
Mr.
Leslie
go
?
”
said
Mr.
Chanson
.
“
It
was
not
I
,
sir
.
”
“
Go
to
his
room
.
Are
his
things
gone
?
”
Nothing
was
gone
.
“
Nor
does
he
say
anything
about
sending
them
,
”
said
Mr.
Chanson
;
“
he’ll
write
again
,
I
suppose
—
but
what
a
nuisance
for
me
.
Now
I
shall
have
to
go
alone
...
.
.
I
shall
stay
,
I
think
.
”
“
Oh
!
no
,
”
said
Laura
;
“
go
,
and
perhaps
he
will
meet
you
.
What
can
have
happened
.
Perhaps
his
house
is
burned
down
?
”
“
Perhaps
he
is
arrested
for
debt
?
”
said
another
.
“
Perhaps
the
bank
he
deals
with
is
stopped
?
”
said
a
third
;
but
both
Mr.
Chanson
and
Sir
Peter
looked
at
Laura
,
suspecting
a
quarrel
between
her
and
Leslie
.
She
neither
said
nor
looked
any
answer
,
but
she
was
officious
and
obliging
in
promoting
the
arrangements
of
the
party
,
and
when
she
fancied
her
brother
still
hesitated
about
his
journey
in
consequence
of
Leslie’s
secession
,
she
exerted
herself
to
persuade
her
cousin
to
accompany
him
,
and
demonstrated
that
with
a
little
extra
,
exertion
he
might
both
perform
this
friendly
office
by
Mr.
Chanson
,
and
also
get
through
his
business
in
London
before
the
time
came
for
the
sailing
of
the
ship
.
Sir
Peter
,
for
her
sake
,
at
last
consented
.
Mr.
Chanson
was
satisfied
to
exchange
Leslie
for
him
,
and
all
seemed
arranged
to
the
general
satisfaction
.
But
five
minutes
before
the
time
of
departure
,
Laura
,
watching
her
opportunity
,
followed
her
brother
into
his
study
,
where
he
was
giving
his
last
directions
to
a
servant
,
and
sending
the
man
from
the
room
,
suddenly
put
her
arms
round
her
brother’s
neck
and
appeared
to
be
stifling
the
sobs
which
stopped
her
utterance
.
“
My
dear
child
—
Laura
—
sister
—
what
is
it
?
Speak
to
me
—
can
I
help
you
?
Only
tell
me
who
has
grieved
you
.
”
“
Has
he
not
forsaken
me
,
Lawrence
?
Shall
I
ever
see
him
again
?
”
“
Who
is
gone
,
Leslie
!
is
that
it
?
I
was
afraid
something
had
gone
wrong
between
you
.
”
“
Oh
!
I
have
been
so
wrong
;
I
have
acted
so
foolishly
.
Only
that
little
girl’s
artful
manœuvres
bewildered
me
.
This
very
morning
she
appointed
to
meet
him
in
the
garden
,
and
I
could
not
bear
it
.
I
...
...
I
...
...
”
“
You
quarrelled
with
him
,
did
you
?
and
is
it
that
which
keeps
Elinor
up
stairs
and
drives
Leslie
away
?
But
what
right
had
you
to
quarrel
with
him
;
tell
me
,
had
you
any
?
”
“
What
right
!
”
said
Laura
impetuously
,
“
except
that
of
a
betrothed
woman
?
”
“
Is
it
so
?
”
said
her
brother
seriously
;
“
in
that
case
I
have
no
business
to
go
looking
after
prospective
votes
.
My
business
is
to
stay
at
home
,
and
see
that
my
sister
has
justice
done
her
.
”
But
Laura
sank
almost
on
her
knees
,
her
arms
clasping
her
brother
all
the
time
.
“
Oh
!
no
,
Lawrence
—
no
!
—
don’t
ruin
me
quite
.
Any
interferences
of
that
sort
would
destroy
my
happiness
for
ever
.
He
loves
me
—
he
will
return
to
me
,
but
it
must
be
by
his
free
will
.
Could
I
deign
to
accept
a
hand
that
did
not
bring
a
heart
...
...
but
the
heart
is
there
—
it
is
mine
—
my
own
fault
has
alienated
it
for
an
instant
,
but
if
it
be
left
to
itself
it
will
not
fail
to
return
.
If
he
departs
at
my
rash
word
,
my
penitent
word
can
recall
him
.
”
“
I
thought
you
implied
it
was
he
who
had
left
you
?
”
“
I
cannot
measure
exactly
what
I
say
.
I
am
distracted
.
I
came
to
tell
you
all
.
”
“
Let
me
remain
with
you
,
Laura
;
it
will
be
best
.
”
“
No
,
no
!
I
would
not
have
him
think
you
know
anything
that
has
passed
between
us
.
Go
,
dear
Lawrence
,
I
will
recall
you
if
it
prove
necessary
.
All
I
want
is
to
have
nothing
concealed
from
you
on
my
own
part
,
and
to
be
able
to
trust
my
brother
through
good
fortune
and
evil
.
”
Real
tears
came
into
Laura’s
eyes
,
as
though
she
had
been
spectatrix
of
the
same
scene
at
a
play
.
Mr.
Chanson
was
moved
,
and
repeatedly
pressed
upon
her
his
offers
of
assistance
.
She
,
however
,
continued
steadily
to
refuse
,
and
returning
with
him
to
the
hall
,
suffered
Sir
Peter
to
think
she
had
been
reddening
her
eyes
with
sisterly
weeping
for
him
,
and
at
last
saw
them
all
depart
,
and
was
very
glad
when
the
house
was
finally
cleared
,
and
she
was
at
liberty
to
put
the
finishing
stroke
to
her
plans
.
CHAPTER
XI
.
LESLIE’S
anger
and
despair
carried
him
to
the
end
of
three
days
,
and
when
those
were
elapsed
,
the
mild
image
of
Elinor
began
to
break
through
his
stormy
passions
like
present
moonlight
in
a
sky
thick
with
black
clouds
.
His
own
harshness
,
exercised
upon
so
delicate
a
feature
,
shocked
himself
;
her
fear
,
her
courage
when
she
laid
her
soft
hand
upon
him
,
her
utter
bereavement
when
he
left
her
in
the
deep
wood
alone
,
wounded
his
heart
.
He
believed
in
all
the
faults
which
he
had
believed
at
that
moment
,
but
he
began
to
think
they
were
immeasurably
punished
by
him
;
he
felt
himself
the
greater
sufferer
under
that
punishment
,
and
when
his
spirit
revolted
from
the
idea
of
receiving
again
the
broken
vows
which
she
had
once
made
him
,
he
yet
felt
impelled
to
implore
her
pardon
for
the
manner
in
which
he
had
resented
her
perfidy
.
When
he
had
persuaded
himself
that
such
was
the
object
which
made
him
long
to
see
her
again
,
he
at
once
gave
way
to
his
desire
to
do
so
,
and
a
very
short
time
saw
him
again
in
the
neighbourhood
of
Chanson
Wood
,
haunting
every
spot
where
he
could
hope
to
meet
with
Elinor
.
But
it
was
all
in
vain
,
the
cold
weather
caused
all
the
shutters
to
be
closed
with
declining
daylight
,
so
that
he
had
no
such
chance
as
the
summer
had
afforded
him
of
investigating
the
dwellers
of
the
rooms
.
No
old
favourite
haunt
was
visited
by
her
footstep
,
no
morning
or
evening
hour
brought
her
out
to
behold
its
beauty
.
Leslie
wandered
about
for
four
and
twenty
hours
,
and
then
made
his
way
to
the
house
itself
,
and
inquired
for
Mr.
Chanson
.
He
was
not
yet
come
home
.
“
Miss
Chanson
?
”
She
was
walking
in
the
flower‐garden
.
He
had
not
words
to
ask
for
Elinor
,
but
followed
the
servant
silently
into
the
garden
,
dreading
more
than
wishing
that
the
two
ladies
might
be
together
.
But
no
;
Laura
only
was
there
.
While
the
servant
was
within
hearing
,
Leslie’s
tone
and
manner
preserved
their
common‐place
,
but
they
were
no
sooner
alone
than
he
broke
out
eagerly
,
“
Can
I
see
Miss
Ladylift
?
”
Laura
hesitated
.
“
What
!
she
cannot
forgive
me
?
”
“
Could
you
forgive
her
?
”
“
A
man
has
always
a
right
to
forgive
a
woman
.
Where
is
she
?
”
“
Mr.
Leslie
...
...
don’t
you
know
?
”
“
My
God
!
”
cried
Leslie
;
“
I
have
killed
her
!
”
and
his
wild
eyes
searched
and
commanded
Laura’s
face
for
the
fearful
words
he
expected
.
“
Not
so
,
”
said
Laura
;
“
but
she
is
not
here
.
Before
I
could
communicate
with
my
brother
,
before
I
could
reflect
what
to
do
,
she
insisted
on
setting
out
for
her
convent
.
”
“
Her
convent
?
”
“
After
you
were
all
gone
,
and
I
returned
to
her
room
,
she
had
already
made
her
preparations
,
and
no
efforts
of
mine
could
detain
her
.
I
did
what
I
could
;
I
sent
to
Mr.
Roundel
,
you
know
him
,
my
brother’s
man
of
business
,
and
requested
him
to
take
charge
of
her
on
her
journey
,
which
he
did
.
”
“
Tell
me
,
”
said
Leslie
,
laying
hold
of
Miss
Chanson’s
arm
,
and
speaking
in
a
very
low
voice
;
“
was
she
willing
that
he
should
go
with
her
?
”
“
Why
?
”
said
Laura
.
“
Was
there
not
another
whom
she
expected
to
join
her
.
”
Laura’s
colour
rose
to
scarlet
in‐her
face
.
“
It
never
occurred
to
me
till
now
,
”
she
said
;
and
in
truth
,
Leslie
had
suggested
an
event
in
the
plot
which
Laura
had
overlooked
in
contriving
it
.
“
Where
is
the
companion
you
gave
her
?
”
cried
Leslie
.
“
He
returns
to‐morrow
;
but
surely
if
what
you
fear
had
occurred
,
I
should
have
heard
it
from
him
.
”
“
I
can’t
tell
,
”
said
Leslie
,
as
if
unable
to
argue
,
able
only
to
fear
and
suffer
.
“
I
shall
see
him
the
moment
he
comes
home
.
Farewell
!
Ours
has
been
a
troubled
intercourse
,
Miss
Chanson
,
”
he
said
,
offering
his
hand
;
“
forgive
me
much
that
you
have
against
me
,
and
which
you
will
forget
when
I
no
longer
darken
your
happy
home
.
”
So
saying
,
he
turned
away
and
walked
up
the
garden
,
Laura
pursuing
him
with
stedfast
eyes
.
“
Does
he
think
to
leave
me
thus
?
”
she
said
to
herself
;
“
is
all
over
between
us
,
does
he
suppose
?
and
he
goes
without
a
look
behind
,
unconscious
that
there
is
a
spell
upon
him
,
and
of
necessity
he
must
return
.
”
Then
as
she
saw
him
ascend
the
steps
of
the
terrace
,
her
eye
could
not
but
mark
that
he
did
so
with
a
step
very
unlike
the
decided
strong
movement
of
his
general
pace
.
“
He
is
ill
,
”
she
said
to
herself
;
“
I
may
lose
him
even
in
trying
to
win
him
.
Better
even
that
,
than
that
he
should
belong
to
another
.
”
The
day
was
by
this
time
dark
,
and
Laura
,
whose
general
habits
were
luxu‐
rious
,
and
who
was
to
be
found
on
cold
evenings
in
her
lounging‐chair
at
the
side
of
a
bright
fire
,
her
feet
upon
the
warm
hearth
,
abundance
of
wax
light
on
her
marqueterie
table
,
her
book
,
her
work
,
her
dress
all
in
keeping
,
on
this
night
muffled
her
person
in
a
gray
cloak
,
and
going
herself
to
the
stables
,
at
the
time
of
the
hall
supper
,
when
she
knew
one
lad
only
would
be
left
there
,
caused
this
boy
to
prepare
her
pony
carriage
with
uncompromising
haste
,
and
,
with
him
to
drive
her
,
set
off
in
cold
and
darkness
for
Cantleton
,
the
town
where
Mr.
Roundel
lived
.
She
had
readily
answered
Leslie
that
he
would
return
to‐morrow
,
her
instinct
being
on
all
occasions
to
gain
time
;
but
she
was
perfectly
aware
herself
,
that
he
had
already
been
back
a
whole
day
,
having
in
fact
received
from
him
the
assurance
that
he
had
conducted
Elinor
to
the
convent
whither
all
Laura’s
skill
and
power
had
been
exerted
to
make
her
fly
.
She
had
,
however
,
felt
in
a
moment
that
she
must
see
him
before
Leslie
could
do
so
,
and
had
gained
twenty‐four
hours
by
her
ready
lie
.
It
was
ten
o’clock
before
she
reached
the
town
;
she
had
a
humiliating
part
to
play
,
that
she
felt
,
but
at
least
she
would
do
it
in
a
grand
,
unquestionable
way
,
and
would
come
out
of
the
house
quite
beyond
being
assailed
in
person
by
any
remarks
which
might
be
made
by
its
indwellers
when
she
should
be
gone
.
Besides
,
she
had
brought
a
sum
of
money
,
so
considerable
(
under
the
name
of
paying
Mr.
Roundel’s
expenses
on
his
journey
)
that
the
acceptance
of
it
—
and
she
was
quite
sure
it
would
be
accepted
—
would
constitute
an
acknowledgment
that
further
services
must
be
rendered
in
return
.
Still
,
while
she
waited
for
him
in
his
parlour
,
where
the
fire
was
out
,
and
the
chairs
all
set
back
against
the
wall
,
she
had
uneasy
beatings
at
her
heart
which
kept
her
standing
;
and
which
she
thought
to
subdue
when
he
came
in
,
by
taking
a
seat
with
as
much
dignity
as
if
she
were
in
her
usual
position
of
command
.
She
did
not
begin
with
any
reference
to
the
strange
lateness
of
the
visit
,
for
the
cause
of
it
would
soon
,
she
knew
,
seem
stranger
than
the
visit
itself
,
but
without
apology
or
explanation
opened
her
business
.
“
You
have
done
me
a
service
,
Mr.
Roundel
,
”
Laura
began
,
“
in
conveying
that
young
lady
back
to
France
.
”
“
Since
it
was
for
your
interest
,
as
I
understand
,
”
began
Mr.
Roundel
.
“
For
her
own
,
I
beg
it
to
be
understood
,
”
said
Laura
.
“
Oh
!
certainly
,
certainly
.
”
“
Did
she
seem
delighted
at
returning
to
the
convent
?
”
“
I
can
hardly
say
delighted
,
”
answered
Mr.
Roundel
.
“
Indeed
!
I
am
surprised
at
that
.
What
could
then
make
her
wish
so
much
to
return
?
Did
anybody
come
to
welcome
her
?
”
“
A
maid‐servant
answered
the
bell
when
...
...
”
“
No
;
before
you
reached
the
convent
?
In
fact
,
Mr.
Roundel
,
I
have
cause
to
suspect
that
her
eagerness
for
the
journey
—
for
the
trouble
of
which
,
by
the
by
,
allow
me
to
offer
you
this
note
”
—
Mr
.
Roundel
looked
at
it
,
and
began
to
understand
that
his
answers
must
take
some
shape
which
he
did
not
as
yet
perceive
—
“
her
eagerness
must
be
connected
with
the
departure
of
...
...
you
knew
my
cousin
,
Sir
Peter
?
”
Mr.
Roundel
bowed
assent
.
“
You
must
be
aware
that
her
fancy
for
this
gentleman
could
never
be
encouraged
by
us
;
but
it
is
possible
that
infatuation
on
his
part
...
...
”
“
Very
possible
,
”
said
Mr.
Roundel
.
“
What
,
you
had
reason
to
suspect
?
”
“
Nay
,
I
cannot
deny
I
had
my
suspicion
,
”
said
Mr.
Roundel
,
thinking
that
expression
would
suit
whatever
came
next
.
“
Indeed
!
and
what
followed
?
”
“
What
followed
?
”
said
Mr.
Roundel
.
“
Well
,
to
tell
the
truth
,
nothing
very
particular
.
”
“
You
trifle
,
sir
;
if
that
young
man
gave
you
cause
to
suspect
intentions
which
she
favoured
,
I
conclude
that
you
were
unable
to
conduct
your
charge
safely
to
the
convent
.
”
“
I
assure
you
,
”
answered
Mr.
Roundel
,
hastily
,
“
I
safely
delivered
Miss
Ladylift
into
the
hands
of
the
Superior
;
what
might
happen
afterwards
,
I
cannot
say
.
”
“
Unfortunately
,
Mr.
Roundel
,
I
fear
that
I
can
.
”
“
Is
it
possible
?
”
said
Mr.
Roundel
.
“
At
all
events
,
I
discharged
my
duty
.
”
“
Undoubtedly
,
there
is
no
fault
of
yours
;
but
however
distressing
to
myself
to
speak
upon
such
a
subject
,
I
feel
it
my
painful
task
to
mention
to
you
,
that
should
any
one
inquire
about
her
from
you
,
you
had
better
put
an
end
at
once
to
any
interest
taken
in
her
,
by
stating
that
,
on
too
good
authority
,
you
know
her
to
be
unworthy
of
it
.
”
“
Upon
my
soul
!
”
said
Mr.
Roundel
;
“
and
if
particulars
are
asked
,
I
can
refer
...
...
”
“
It
is
not
probable
that
I
should
enter
upon
such
subjects
,
”
said
Laura
,
in
the
most
dignified
manner
;
“
I
have
already
said
,
perhaps
,
too
much
;
and
when
I
came
to
you
,
I
did
so
as
to
a
friend
,
who
,
I
trusted
,
would
relieve
me
from
the
necessity
of
saying
more
.
”
Mr.
Roundel
bowed
,
and
Laura
,
rising
,
prepared
to
depart
.
“
But
if
I
am
asked
where
I
left
the
young
lady
,
”
said
he
,
“
what
must
I
say
?
”
“
The
truth
,
sir
,
”
said
Laura
,
very
loftily
.
“
What
you
yourself
know
to
have
been
true
as
to
her
arrival
,
and
what
you
understand
from
me
to
have
been
true
with
respect
to
her
subsequent
departure
.
”
“
I
understand
,
”
said
Mr.
Roundel
,
in
a
very
low
voice
.
Laura’s
eyes
met
his
;
then
,
in
a
grand
way
,
she
requested
his
pardon
for
disturbing
him
at
this
late
hour
,
and
bidding
him
good‐night
,
sailed
out
of
the
house
,
Mr.
Roundel
following
her
to
the
pony
carriage
,
and
when
she
was
gone
shrugging
his
shoulders
,
and
muttering
an
epithet
I
will
not
repeat
.
The
next
morning
,
Leslie
,
who
had
passed
the
night
in
walking
about
a
bedroom
of
the
inn
in
the
town
,
wandered
forth
,
dragging
through
the
time
till
he
might
inquire
when
Mr.
Rounder’s
return
was
likely
to
take
place
.
“
Master
was
already
at
home
,
”
the
maid
answered
,
and
Leslie
and
he
soon
stood
face
to
face
.
Mr.
Roundel
had
thought
over
the
matter
,
and
had
resolved
in
his
own
mind
that
the
rich
and
powerful
Miss
Chanson
was
the
injured
person
in
this
,
to
him
,
obscure
history
,
and
that
,
on
the
whole
,
in
adopting
her
views
of
it
,
he
should
best
consult
his
own
interests
,
as
well
as
her
wishes
.
He
therefore
scrupled
not
to
give
Leslie
the
version
Laura
had
taught
him
.
Leslie
received
the
story
so
calmly
,
and
so
much
as
a
matter‐of‐fact
,
that
Mr.
Roundel
became
almost
persuaded
that
he
himself
had
been
telling
the
truth
.
“
A
very
fine
young
man
,
”
said
he
to
himself
,
when
,
after
thanking
and
wishing
him
good
morning
,
Leslie
disappeared
down
the
street
.
“
A
fine
man
,
and
takes
the
result
of
his
adventures
quietly
;
”
and
with
that
Mr.
Roundel
turned
back
to
his
office
.
Leslie
meantime
reached
the
inn
,
and
wished
to
inquire
what
public
conveyance
would
first
start
on
the
road
to
his
own
place
;
but
the
words
which
he
found
him‐
self
using
were
not
those
which
bore
the
meaning
he
wished
to
convey
.
He
tried
to
frame
the
name
of
the
town
nearest
to
his
own
house
,
and
spoke
as
slowly
as
he
could
in
order
to
fasten
the
sound
and
the
idea
together
;
but
even
then
he
failed
,
and
perceiving
that
he
had
done
so
,
he
turned
away
by
a
great
exertion
,
and
forced
his
limbs
to
carry
him
a
few
step’s
;
then
a
great
dizziness
came
over
everything
,
and
stumbling
forward
upon
a
seat
which
he
just
descried
,
he
there
lost
consciousness
of
himself
and
everything
else
.
He
was
known
at
the
inn
as
the
guest
of
Mr.
Chanson
,
and
when
the
doctor
had
seen
him
,
and
declared
him
dangerously
ill
with
brain
fever
,
and
when
it
became
apparent
how
desirable
the
presence
of
some
responsible
person
might
become
,
the
landlord
sent
information
to
Chanson
Wood
of
what
had
happened
.
Mr.
Chanson
had
returned
the
evening
before
,
and
his
hospitable
nature
led
him
at
once
to
the
desire
of
receiving
his
sick
friend
,
and
to
have
him
nursed
under
his
own
roof
.
Laura
se‐
conded
him
,
and
looked
upon
all
as
the
favourable
working
of
her
fate
,
which
was
relieving
her
own
brain
from
the
necessity
of
forming
further
devices
for
the
achievement
of
her
scheme
.
A
carriage
fitted
up
for
bearing
an
invalid
,
was
despatched
with
a
handy
footman
.
Mr.
Chanson
went
on
horseback
to
the
inn
,
and
before
the
end
of
the
day
,
the
unconscious
Leslie
was
conveyed
to
Chanson
Wood
;
and
lay
there
helpless
,
like
one
entangled
of
old
in
the
meshes
of
a
corrupt
and
beautiful
enchantress
.
The
struggle
between
life
and
death
was
more
severe
and
more
solemn
than
Laura
had
anticipated
.
It
lasted
very
long
,
and
sometimes
forced
upon
her
the
real
probability
of
that
which
she
had
hitherto
put
to
herself
in
words
only
,
namely
,
that
Leslie
would
die
.
“
If
he
should
die
?
”
she
said
to
herself
,
believing
it
,
and
trembling
at
what
it
implied
,
but
she
threw
off
the
image
,
for
it
was
in
disagreement
with
all
,
the
web
she
had
been
weaving
,
and
whatever
unfavourable
report
was
brought
her
,
attributed
its
worst
gloom
to
mistake
or
ignorance
,
which
falsely
represented
the
real
state
of
things
.
But
it
was
very
long
before
the
demon
of
the
fever
could
be
cast
out
of
Leslie’s
frame
,
and
when
at
last
it
was
expelled
,
it
left
him
shattered
,
exhausted
,
and
so
utterly
devoid
of
the
strong
sense
of
life
he
had
hitherto
enjoyed
,
that
it
seemed
to
him
impossible
ever
to
be
again
the
free
,
careless
,
powerful
being
he
was
accustomed
to
be
;
rather
,
he
felt
that
he
had
only
escaped
the
death
of
fever
to
go
down
more
slowly
,
and
as
surely
,
into
the
grave
,
where
all
things
are
dark
and
at
rest
.
His
mind
had
begun
under
the
auspices
of
the
pure
love
with
which
Elinor
had
at
last
inspired
him
,
to
have
healthier
feelings
than
were
habitual
to
it
,
of
happiness
and
of
virtue
;
but
the
disappointment
of
his
newly‐born
faith
and
hope
had
swept
away
all
the
better
feelings
which
grew
up
with
them
,
and
a
more
gloomy
scepticism
as
to
whatever
was
just
and
good
never
darkened
any
human
bosom
than
that
with
which
he
got
up
from
his
long
illness
.
It
was
now
five
months
since
he
had
fallen
down
unconscious
in
the
inn
at
Cantleton
,
and
been
conveyed
by
Mr.
Chanson
to
his
own
house
.
He
had
just
become
able
to
walk
about
,
and
his
only
desire
was
to
go
home
and
die
there
.
He
felt
the
burthen
of
his
obligations
to
Mr.
Chanson
and
Laura
,
and
heartily
wished
they
had
left
him
to
perish
when
he
fell
ill
,
and
have
neither
tormented
him
with
a
second
long
process
of
dying
,
nor
with
a
debt
to
them
,
which
nothing
he
could
do
was
able
to
pay
.
He
made
efforts
beyond
his
present
strength
in
order
to
get
away
the
sooner
,
and
the
re‐action
when
he
was
alone
piled
over
his
spirit
the
mountain
weight
of
its
oppression
.
Laura
watched
him
;
and
it
seemed
to
her
the
moment
was
coming
when
she
might
finish
her
enchantment
,
and
prove
whether
the
spell
had
been
woven
strong
enough
or
not
.
She
did
not
deceive
herself
as
to
the
fact
that
he
loved
her
not
;
he
was
obliged
,
but
not
grateful
;
he
was
waiting
impatiently
to
leave
her
,
though
there
was
no
one
whose
society
he
would
seek
in
exchange
.
She
could
not
talk
so
as
to
interest
him
now
;
though
he
did
his
best
to
renew
the
easy
gossip
of
bygone
days
.
Still
she
had
strong
hold
on
him
,
and
knew
it
.
She
had
kept
the
secret
of
his
engagement
to
Elinor
inviolable
;
and
he
was
thankful
that
it
had
never
reached
Mr.
Chanson
.
She
had
falsely
insinuated
to
him
that
her
own
name
had
been
coupled
with
his
through
the
county
,
and
that
the
result
was
injurious
to
her
hitherto
sacred
reputation
;
he
had
believed
her
;
and
though
he
said
to
himself
the
fault
was
hers
,
and
so
must
be
the
penalty
,
yet
it
was
difficult
to
feel
himself
in
no
degree
committed
;
and
,
finally
,
his
fixed
expectation
of
death
and
his
disenchantment
with
all
faith
in
happiness
,
persuaded
her
that
he
would
be
indifferent
to
one
scheme
of
life
almost
as
much
as
to
another
.
It
was
one
early
April
day
that
she
proposed
to
him
to
walk
for
ten
minutes
in
the
garden
;
and
he
,
eager
to
prove
himself
strong
and
independent
again
,
complied
.
Laura
knew
how
weak
was
his
frame
,
and
wondered
that
he
could
force
himself
to
pass
and
repass
so
often
up
and
down
the
dry
gravel
walk
;
at
last
,
she
proposed
to
rest
under
a
bower
which
kept
off
the
active
breeze
of
April
and
the
bright
sunbeam
,
and
Leslie
consenting
,
they
sate
down
side
by
side
.
“
This
short
walk
is
long
for
me
,
”
said
Leslie
,
“
but
my
ability
to
perform
it
reminds
me
that
I
am
able
at
last
to
relieve
you
of
a
burthen
which
you
have
so
kindly
supported
.
To‐morrow
I
will
find
my
way
home
.
”
“
If
you
have
resolved
upon
a
thing
,
”
said
Laura
,
“
you
will
do
it
;
remonstrance
is
useless
.
”
“
Yes
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
but
it
is
a
kindness
in
you
to
speed
me
thus
.
”
“
The
kindness
of
letting
you
free
yourself
from
my
society
without
useless
contradiction
?
you
cannot
say
yes
to
that
;
social
forms
forbid
you
;
but
honesty
forbids
you
to
say
no.
”
“
Not
so
much
honesty
,
”
said
Leslie
,
“
as
the
conviction
that
I
am
a
dying
man
.
I
cannot
fence
with
words
at
this
time
;
I
have
strength
for
nothing
but
the
bare
truth
,
and
I
allow
that
to
die
in
a
dark
corner
at
home
,
is
what
remains
of
my
ambition
.
”
“
Alas
!
”
said
Laura
,
“
since
you
say
those
cruel
words
,
I
know
that
you
mean
them
;
I
too
have
a
meaning
,
”
she
went
on
.
“
Nay
,
do
not
tell
me
,
”
said
Leslie
,
for
he
felt
she
had
a
scene
in
store
,
and
he
shrank
from
the
trouble
of
it
.
“
There
is
no
meaning
,
no
purpose
which
has
anything
to
do
with
me
,
or
in
which
I
have
a
part
to
bear
.
”
“
I
mean
,
”
said
Laura
,
suddenly
,
“
that
in
your
death
,
more
die
than
you
.
”
“
By
no
means
.
I
was
a
pleasant
fellow
enough
last
year
,
but
this
one
,
I
am
a
mere
curtain
,
a
drop‐scene
;
when
I
am
pulled
away
,
all
the
stage
will
be
bright
again
.
”
“
And
all
this
for
the
sake
of
one
who
is
unworthy
to
be
remembered
!
”
ejaculated
Laura
.
“
One
,
”
said
Leslie
,
shuddering
,
“
whose
name
must
not
be
a
sound
again
,
for
God’s
sake
.
Unspoken
as
it
is
,
it
galvanizes
life
back
to
my
heart
.
”
“
Forgive
me
,
Leslie
,
I
am
grieved
to
have
said
it
.
”
“
Forgive
!
”
he
answered
,
“
there
is
much
of
that
needed
on
all
sides
—
not
by
you
,
however
.
These
are
idle
words
.
”
“
No
,
not
idle
,
”
said
Laura
,
“
I
am
not
without
need
of
forgiveness
,
though
others
want
it
more
.
”
“
Don’t
say
so
,
for
you
do
not
mean
it
,
nor
have
I
wit
or
strength
to
unravel
your
feigned
humility
.
In
my
best
days
I
always
was
idle
about
contradicting
those
who
spoke
ill
of
themselves
.
”
“
You
are
hard
,
”
said
Laura
,
“
and
oblige
me
to
look
very
narrowly
to
my
judgment
of
myself
.
Perhaps
you
are
right
;
though
I
may
have
done
a
wrong
thing
,
still
it
is
possible
that
,
like
Othello
,
I
was
not
the
most
guilty
.
”
“
‘More
sinned
against
,
than
sinning
,
’
”
said
Leslie
;
“
I
told
you
so
.
”
Laura
paused
,
she
thought
he
would
ask
in
what
she
had
been
sinned
against
,
but
he
said
nothing
,
and
she
was
obliged
herself
to
make
use
of
the
opportunity
she
had
opened
.
After
a
minute’s
silence
,
therefore
she
resumed
.
“
Society
makes
crimes
out
of
things
which
are
innocent
by
Nature
.
When
man
is
in
prosperity
a
woman
is
obliged
to
deny
that
his
good
or
evil
destiny
can
interest
her
,
but
when
fortune
has
forsaken
him
,
when
he
is
unhappy
,
ill
,
lonely
,
is
it
unwomanly
then
to
say
she
feels
for
him
?
”
“
Alas
!
”
said
Leslie
,
“
I
am
not
deserving
of
one
kind
feeling
.
I
tell
you
truly
that
I
cannot
rouse
one
in
return
,
for
any
human
creature
.
Who
could
,
when
his
grave
was
dug
,
his
