womenthat
ever
breathed
—
honest
,
straightforward
,
truth-speaking
literally
to
a
fault
,
but
as
hard
as
she
was
true
.
Whether
she
ever
had
any
feelings
or
not
,
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
with
all
her
penetration
,
never
could
discover
;
but
the
good
she
did
was
immense
in
practical
benevolence
,
though
the
quick
sympathy
,
the
kindly
word
,
the
indulgent
thought
,
seemed
utterly
unknown
.
She
had
no
pity
for
faults
or
failings
,
always
declaring
forbearance
and
love
were
all
folly
;
"
if
a
branch
were
in
the
slightest
degree
decayed
,
cut
it
off
;
if
the
blight
extend
to
the
root
,
destroy
it
,
"
she
was
fond
of
saying
.
As
for
youthful
follies
or
errors
,
she
had
no
patience
with
them
,
for
never
having
been
,
or
rather
felt
young
herself
,
she
could
not
understand
the
age
in
others
.
Ellis
had
not
discrimination
enough
to
discern
the
good
which
lay
under
this
very
disagreeable
exterior
;
Mrs.
Hamilton
had
;
and
suffering
as
she
knew
a
residence
with
her
must
be
to
Ellen
,
if
indeed
she
were
really
the
character
she
had
seemed
in
childhood
—
though
the
last
few
months
had
so
contradicted
it
—
she
felt
her
husband
had
decided
wisely
,
spite
of
the
misery
which
still
even
the
very
thought
of
sending
her
orphan
niece
so
completely
from
her
,
was
to
herself
.
Mr.
Hamilton
's
letter
read
harshly
,
but
his
wife
knew
his
high
,
almost
stern
principles
;
he
had
not
seen
Ellen
's
evident
anguish
;
he
could
only
judge
from
the
relation
which
had
been
sent
him
,
and
all
which
that
told
was
indeed
against
her
.
Of
course
he
said
,
if
she
had
confessed
,
and
her
confession
in
any
degree
,
pleaded
for
her
,
his
wife
would
use
her
own
judgment
as
to
the
period
of
her
banishment
;
but
he
could
not
imagine
any
cause
for
her
conduct
sufficiently
excusing
,
as
to
demand
the
avoidance
of
his
sentence
altogether
.
Miss
Seldon
's
last
visit
to
Oakwood
was
sufficiently
well
remembered
by
the
young
Hamiltons
(
though
,
it
was
before
their
cousins
had
arrived
from
India
)
,
for
them
all
—
even
Percy
and
Caroline
,
the
most
indignant
against
Ellen
—
to
think
of
their
father
's
sentence
with
the
deepest
regret
,
and
with
almost
dread
for
its
effect
on
Ellen
.
"
If
she
did
but
know
her
,
she
must
speak
,
"
was
Emmeline
's
exclamation
.
"
I
did
not
feel
quite
sure
that
I
was
my
own
happy
self
,
all
the
time
she
was
with
us
.
"
"
The
atmosphere
was
frozen
twenty
degrees
below
zero
in
all
the
rooms
she
frequented
,
though
it
was
otherwise
a
hot
summer
,
"
rejoined
Percy
;
"
and
in
Yorkshire
—
"
"
Pray
do
not
joke
,
dear
Percy
;
I
can
not
bear
to
think
of
Ellen
going
away
from
us
at
all
,
much
less
to
such
a
guardian
,
though
I
know
she
is
very
good
,
"
answered
Herbert
.
"
Now
,
my
good
fellow
,
do
not
attempt
to
say
a
word
for
Nancy
Seldon
;
she
was
the
only
person
in
the
world
I
ever
heard
you
acknowledge
you
disliked
;
so
what
must
she
be
?
Worthy
!
no
doubt
,
or
my
father
would
not
have
trusted
Ellen
to
her
,
but
for
any
thing
else
—
"
"
Poor
Ellen
!
she
little
knows
to
what
her
obstinacy
is
condemning
her
,
"
rejoined
Caroline
;
"
I
wish
she
did
and
then
she
might
spare
herself
and
mamma
,
too
;
though
I
fear
even
confession
would
not
help
her
much
now
.
"
Mrs.
Hamilton
might
and
did
think
with
them
all
,
but
she
could
not
swerve
from
her
duty
.
She
wrote
at
once
to
Miss
Seldon
,
not
entering
into
particulars
,
but
merely
asking
if
she
would
consent
to
take
charge
of
a
relative
,
whose
conduct
demanded
more
rigid
watchfulness
and
care
,
and
an
entire
cessation
of
indulgence
,
than
could
be
the
case
in
the
family
circle
at
Oakwood
.
She
and
her
husband
had
such
perfect
confidence
in
her
,
she
said
,
that
if
she
could
oblige
them
by
undertaking
the
duty
,
they
knew
,
without
any
assurance
on
her
part
,
that
she
would
discharge
it
faithfully
.
The
yearly
sum
they
offered
was
large
,
because
they
wished
their
young
relative
to
have
all
the
comforts
and
appurtenances
of
a
gentlewoman
,
and
the
advantages
of
the
best
education
,
the
city
near
which
she
resided
,
could
afford
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
had
no
doubt
of
the
affirmative
nature
of
the
reply
,
for
Miss
Seldon
owed
the
recovery
of
her
fortune
and
position
entirely
to
the
exertions
of
Mr.
Hamilton
;
and
she
had
told
him
,
once
for
all
,
that
if
she
could
but
serve
or
oblige
him
in
any
way
,
great
or
small
,
it
would
make
her
far
happier
than
she
had
ever
been
,
or
was
likely
to
be
in
her
solitary
life
.
The
letter
written
and
dispatched
,
Mrs.
Hamilton
summoned
Ellen
once
more
to
her
presence
.
The
scene
was
again
the
library
,
where
she
had
been
writing
,
and
the
time
nearing
the
short
twilight
of
October
.
It
was
three
weeks
,
rather
more
,
since
Sir
Edward
Manly
's
letter
had
been
received
,
and
Edward
was
,
therefore
,
almost
daily
expected
.
The
feelings
with
which
his
unhappy
sister
looked
to
his
return
it
would
be
a
vain
attempt
to
define
.
At
times
the
intense
longing
to
see
him
again
,
caused
a
wild
,
almost
sick
feeling
of
pleasure
,
that
she
might
,
perhaps
,
so
soon
do
so
;
then
came
all
that
had
passed
,
and
she
pictured
his
anger
,
his
loathing
—
true
it
had
been
for
him
,
but
he
had
not
thought
of
such
a
deed
.
He
would
,
he
must
hate
and
spurn
her
,
too
;
and
the
idea
of
meeting
him
became
absolute
agony
.
Then
—
and
she
shuddered
in
dread
—
would
he
think
that
he
must
acknowledge
it
was
for
him
she
had
thus
acted
?
and
,
if
so
,
had
she
not
betrayed
instead
of
saving
him
?
Incident
after
incident
in
their
childhood
rose
before
her
,
to
give
her
hope
that
he
would
be
silent
now
as
then
,
and
not
betray
himself
;
but
these
contending
terrors
,
united
with
the
constant
though
silent
suffering
of
her
banishment
from
all
she
loved
,
the
utter
hopelessness
as
to
the
end
of
this
trial
,
had
not
been
without
their
effect
on
the
outward
frame
.
Ellis
did
not
see
it
,
from
so
constantly
watching
her
,
and
from
Ellen
never
refusing
to
take
the
exercise
she
desired
her
,
and
not
making
a
single
complaint
as
to
the
pain
it
was
sometimes
to
walk
,
and
always
to
swallow
her
meals
;
but
as
she
stood
opposite
to
her
aunt
,
in
the
full
light
of
the
oriel
window
—
her
approach
had
been
so
noiseless
,
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
who
was
bending
over
some
papers
,
did
not
see
her
till
she
chanced
to
look
up
—
the
attenuation
of
form
and
feature
was
so
very
visible
,
that
her
aunt
could
not
prevent
herself
from
starting
painfully
,
and
the
words
with
which
she
had
intended
to
address
her
froze
on
her
lips
.
It
was
with
the
utmost
difficulty
she
refrained
from
folding
her
to
her
heart
,
and
trying
,
by
every
means
affection
could
devise
,
to
soothe
or
remove
that
anguish
,
whatever
its
nature
,
far
too
deep
and
constant
for
one
so
very
young
;
but
how
dared
she
do
this
,
when
,
by
this
determined
silence
,
Ellen
so
defied
her
authority
,
and
seemed
so
resolved
that
neither
severity
nor
kindness
,
nor
her
own
sufferings
should
humble
her
spirit
,
though
they
had
even
affected
her
frame
?
Conquering
with
a
powerful
effort
the
pleadings
of
affection
,
Mrs.
Hamilton
calmly
entered
on
the
subject
for
which
she
had
summoned
her
,
reading
to
her
a
greater
part
of
her
uncle
's
letter
,
hoping
that
its
severity
would
spare
her
the
pain
of
any
additional
remarks
.
Every
word
seemed
to
burn
itself
on
Ellen
's
brain
.
What
she
had
hoped
she
knew
not
,
for
she
thought
she
had
never
hoped
at
all
,
but
the
words
,
"
No
cause
can
be
excusing
enough
to
justify
the
entire
setting
aside
this
sentence
,
"
seemed
by
its
agony
to
tell
her
that
the
thought
had
entered
her
mind
,
if
the
real
cause
were
by
any
chance
discovered
would
she
be
forgiven
,
and
in
time
restored
to
confidence
and
love
?
And
now
it
was
over
,
even
that
hope
was
gone
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
paused
for
a
reply
or
an
observation
,
but
none
came
,
and
she
continued
,
impressively
—
"
I
can
scarcely
hope
,
Ellen
,
that
as
even
the
idea
of
sparing
your
only
brother
shame
and
misery
,
on
his
return
home
,
expecting
nothing
but
joy
,
after
nearly
three
years
'
separation
and
exposure
to
danger
,
has
had
no
effect
in
softening
you
,
that
your
uncle
's
sentence
will
.
Once
I
should
have
believed
that
only
the
thought
of
leaving
me
,
and
going
to
the
care
of
a
stranger
,
would
have
urged
you
to
speak
directly
.
I
can
believe
this
no
longer
;
but
as
I
wish
you
to
be
with
Edward
,
at
least
part
of
his
stay
with
us
,
I
shall
postpone
your
leaving
us
,
one
month
from
to-day
.
If
,
indeed
,
Edward
's
influence
be
such
that
,
for
his
sake
,
you
will
make
me
a
full
confession
and
answer
clearly
and
distinctly
every
question
I
put
to
you
,
your
residence
with
Miss
Seldon
shall
be
limited
to
three
,
six
,
ten
,
or
twelve
months
,
according
to
the
nature
of
the
motive
of
this
incomprehensible
and
,
apparently
most
sinful
conduct
.
If
you
leave
us
still
obdurate
,
years
will
,
in
all
probability
,
pass
before
we
can
feel
sufficiently
confident
in
the
restored
integrity
and
openness
of
your
character
to
permit
your
return
to
us
.
The
pain
you
are
inflicting
upon
me
it
is
useless
to
dwell
upon
.
As
the
child
of
my
only
and
most
dearly
loved
sister
,
I
have
loved
you
,
hoped
for
you
,
with
little
less
intensity
of
affection
than
that
I
have
borne
toward
my
own
;
for
I
felt
that
,
with
the
sole
exception
of
your
brother
,
I
was
the
only
being
you
had
on
earth
united
to
you
by
ties
of
blood
.
How
this
conduct
repays
my
love
and
care
you
must
answer
to
yourself
;
I
can
only
be
sensible
of
bitter
disappointment
.
"
Again
she
stopped
,
evidently
expecting
a
reply
,
but
Ellen
still
remained
silent
.
The
short
twilight
of
autumn
had
set
in
so
suddenly
,
that
Mrs.
Hamilton
was
not
aware
her
niece
's
cheek
had
become
still
paler
,
and
that
her
white
lips
quivered
repeatedly
,
as
if
she
several
times
tried
to
speak
,
but
could
not
.
After
a
silence
of
some
minutes
,
she
said
—
"
If
you
are
determined
not
to
speak
,
Ellen
,
you
may
retire
.
I
have
told
you
all
I
wished
to
say
,
except
that
till
you
leave
us
though
you
will
still
occupy
your
present
rooms
,
and
be
still
under
Ellis
's
care
,
you
are
at
liberty
to
employ
yourself
,
and
go
about
the
house
and
grounds
as
usual
.
"
Ellen
turned
to
go
,
still
in
that
unbroken
silence
;
she
had
reached
the
low
step
dividing
the
upper
part
from
the
lower
part
of
the
room
,
and
whether
she
did
not
see
it
,
or
from
some
other
cause
,
the
room
suddenly
reeled
before
her
,
and
she
fell
heavily
forward
.
To
spring
toward
her
,
raise
her
tenderly
,
bear
her
to
the
nearest
couch
,
though
she
so
trembled
herself
at
finding
Ellen
quite
insensible
,
as
to
render
the
task
unusually
difficult
,
and
to
ring
hastily
for
Ellis
,
was
the
work
of
a
minute
,
but
it
was
many
minutes
before
their
united
efforts
could
bring
back
consciousness
.
"
I
knew
it
would
break
her
heart
,
poor
lamb
!
"
was
Ellis
's
exclamation
,
in
a
tone
of
most
unusual
excitement
;
"
thank
God
,
thank
God
!
Master
Edward
's
coming
home
,
and
that
she
is
not
to
go
till
he
does
.
"
"
Have
you
so
much
confidence
in
his
influence
?
"
asked
her
mistress
,
as
,
unable
to
resist
the
impulse
,
she
bent
down
and
repeatedly
kissed
the
cold
brow
and
cheek
,
to
which
she
was
so
earnestly
striving
to
restore
warmth
,
"
God
in
mercy
grant
you
may
be
right
!
"
"
Right
?
Dear
my
lady
!
"
(
whenever
Ellis
was
strongly
moved
,
she
always
so
addressed
her
mistress
;
)
"
I
would
stake
your
confidence
in
me
,
which
is
all
my
life
's
worth
,
if
Master
Edward
is
not
at
the
bottom
of
it
all
,
and
that
this
poor
child
is
sacrificing
herself
for
some
fancied
danger
to
him
!
I
saw
enough
of
that
work
when
they
were
young
children
,
and
I
have
noticed
enough
since
she
has
been
under
my
care
.
"
"
Edward
!
"
repeated
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
so
bewildered
,
as
to
stop
for
the
moment
chafing
Ellen
's
cold
hand
;
"
Edward
!
bearing
the
high
character
he
does
;
what
can
he
have
to
do
with
it
?
"
"
I
do
n't
know
,
my
lady
,
but
I
am
sure
he
has
.
Young
men
,
ay
,
some
of
the
finest
and
bravest
among
us
,
get
into
difficulties
sometimes
,
and
it
do
n't
touch
their
characters
as
their
officers
see
them
,
and
Master
Edward
was
always
so
terrified
at
the
mere
thought
of
my
master
knowing
any
of
his
faults
;
but
—
hush
!
we
must
not
let
her
know
we
suspect
any
thing
,
poor
lamb
;
it
will
make
her
still
more
miserable
.
You
are
better
now
,
dear
Miss
Ellen
,
are
you
not
?
"
she
added
,
soothingly
,
as
Ellen
feebly
raised
her
hand
to
her
forehead
,
and
then
slowly
unclosed
her
eyes
,
and
beheld
her
aunt
leaning
over
her
,
with
that
same
expression
of
anxious
affection
,
which
her
illness
had
so
often
caused
in
her
childhood
.
Sense
,
or
rather
memory
,
had
not
quite
returned
,
and
her
first
words
were
,
with
a
faint
but
happy
smile
—
"
I
am
better
,
dear
aunt
,
much
better
;
I
dare
say
I
shall
soon
be
well
.
"
But
it
was
only
a
momentary
forgetfulness
;
swift
as
thought
came
the
whole
of
what
had
so
lately
passed
—
her
uncle
's
letter
,
her
aunt
's
words
,
and
murmuring
,
in
a
tone
how
painfully
changed
!
"
I
forgot
—
forgive
me
,
"
she
buried
her
face
in
the
pillow
.
"
Ellen
,
my
dear
Ellen
!
why
will
you
persist
in
making
yourself
and
me
so
miserable
,
when
a
few
words
would
make
us
happier
?
"
exclaimed
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
almost
imploringly
,
as
she
bent
over
her
.
"
Do
not
urge
her
now
,
dear
my
lady
,
she
is
not
well
enough
;
give
her
till
Master
Edward
comes
;
I
am
sure
she
will
not
resist
him
,
"
answered
Ellis
,
very
respectfully
,
though
meaningly
,
as
her
look
drew
her
mistress
's
attention
to
the
shudder
which
convulsed
Ellen
's
slight
frame
,
at
the
mention
of
her
brother
.
Pained
and
bewildered
more
than
ever
,
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
after
waiting
till
the
faintness
seemed
quite
gone
,
and
thinking
that
if
the
restraint
of
her
presence
were
removed
,
Ellen
might
be
relieved
by
tears
,
left
her
,
desiring
Ellis
to
let
her
know
in
a
short
time
how
she
was
.
The
moment
the
door
closed
,
Ellen
threw
her
arms
round
Ellis
's
neck
,
exclaiming
passionately
—
"
Take
me
away
—
take
me
away
,
dear
Ellis
;
I
can
not
bear
this
room
—
it
seems
all
full
of
misery
!
and
I
loved
it
so
once
,
and
I
shall
love
it
again
,
when
I
am
miles
and
miles
away
,
and
can
not
see
it
—
nor
any
one
belonging
to
it
.
Oh
,
Ellis
,
Ellis
!
I
knew
you
were
too
kind
.
I
was
too
glad
and
contented
to
be
with
you
;
it
was
not
punishment
enough
for
my
sin
—
and
I
must
go
away
—
and
I
shall
never
,
never
see
my
aunt
again
—
I
know
I
shall
not
.
Oh
!
if
I
might
but
die
first
!
but
I
am
too
wicked
for
that
;
it
is
only
the
good
that
die
.
"
And
almost
for
the
first
time
since
her
sin
had
been
discovered
,
she
gave
way
to
a
long
and
violent
fit
of
weeping
,
which
,
though
terrible
while
it
lasted
,
as
the
anguish
of
the
young
always
is
,
greatly
relieved
her
,
and
enabled
her
after
that
day
not
to
revert
in
words
(
the
thought
never
left
her
till
a
still
more
fearful
anxiety
deadened
it
)
to
her
uncle
's
sentence
again
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
sat
for
a
very
long
time
alone
after
she
had
left
Ellen
.
Ellis
's
words
returned
to
her
again
and
again
so
pertinaciously
,
that
she
could
not
break
from
them
.
Edward
!
the
cause
of
it
all
—
could
it
be
possible
?
—
could
it
be
,
that
he
had
plunged
himself
into
difficulties
,
and
afraid
to
appeal
to
his
uncle
or
her
,
had
so
worked
on
Ellen
as
not
only
to
make
her
send
relief
,
but
actually
so
to
keep
his
secret
,
as
to
endure
every
thing
rather
than
betray
it
?
Circumstance
after
circumstance
,
thought
after
thought
,
so
congregated
upon
her
,
so
seemed
to
burst
into
being
,
and
flash
light
one
from
the
other
,
that
her
mind
ached
beneath
their
pressure
.
Ellen
's
unhappiness
the
day
his
last
letter
had
been
received
,
her
sudden
illness
—
had
it
taken
place
before
or
after
Robert
had
lost
the
money
?
She
could
not
satisfy
herself
,
for
her
husband
's
sudden
summons
to
Feroe
,
hasty
preparations
,
and
departure
,
had
rendered
all
the
month
confused
and
unsatisfactory
in
its
recollections
.
So
intense
was
the
relief
of
the
idea
,
that
Mrs.
Hamilton
feared
to
encourage
it
,
lest
it
should
prove
a
mere
fancy
,
and
urge
softer
feelings
toward
her
niece
than
ought
to
be
.
Even
the
supposition
made
her
heart
yearn
toward
her
with
such
a
feeling
of
love
,
almost
of
veneration
,
for
the
determined
self-devotion
,
so
essentially
woman
's
characteristic
,
that
she
resolutely
checked
its
ascendency
.
All
her
previous
fancies
,
that
Ellen
was
no
ordinary
child
,
that
early
suffering
and
neglect
had
,
while
they
produced
some
childish
faults
,
matured
and
deepened
the
capabilities
of
endurance
and
control
,
from
the
consciousness
(
or
rather
existence
,
for
it
was
not
the
consciousness
to
the
child
herself
)
of
strong
feeling
,
returned
to
her
,
as
if
determined
to
confirm
Ellis
's
supposition
.
The
disappearance
of
her
allowance
;
her
assertion
,
that
she
was
seeking
Mrs.
Langford
's
cottage
,
by
that
shorter
but
forbidden
path
,
to
try
and
get
her
to
dispose
of
her
trinkets
,
when
the
wind
blew
the
notes
to
her
hand
—
all
now
seemed
connected
one
with
the
other
,
and
confirmed
.
She
could
well
understand
,
how
in
a
moment
of
almost
madness
they
might
have
been
used
without
thought
,
and
the
after-effect
upon
so
delicate
a
mind
and
conscience
.
Then
,
in
contradiction
to
all
this
(
a
mere
hypothesis
raised
on
nothing
firmer
than
Ellis
's
supposition
)
,
came
the
constantly
favorable
accounts
of
Edward
;
his
captain
's
pride
and
confidence
in
him
;
the
seeming
impossibility
that
he
could
get
into
such
difficulties
,
and
what
were
they
?
The
name
of
Harding
rushed
on
her
mind
,
she
knew
not
why
or
how
—
but
it
made
her
tremble
,
by
its
probable
explanation
of
the
whole
.
A
coarse
or
even
less
refined
mind
,
would
have
either
appealed
at
once
to
Ellen
,
as
to
the
truth
of
this
suspicion
,
or
thought
herself
justified
in
looking
over
all
Edward
's
letters
to
his
sister
,
as
thus
to
discover
the
truth
;
but
in
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
pure
mind
the
idea
never
even
entered
,
though
all
her
niece
's
papers
and
letters
were
in
her
actual
possession
.
She
could
only
feel
to
her
heart
's
core
with
Ellis
,
"
Thank
God
,
Master
Edward
's
coming
home
!
"
and
pray
earnestly
that
he
might
be
with
them
,
as
they
hoped
and
anticipated
,
in
a
few
,
a
very
few
days
.
CHAPTER
VII
.
THE
LIGHT
GLIMMERS
.
The
earnest
wishes
and
prayers
of
Mrs.
Hamilton
and
her
faithful
Ellis
were
disappointed
.
The
latter
part
of
the
month
of
September
had
been
exceedingly
stormy
,
and
though
there
was
a
lull
from
about
the
3d
to
the
9th
of
October
,
the
equinoctial
gales
then
set
in
with
the
utmost
fury
;
continuing
day
after
day
,
night
after
night
,
till
the
ear
seemed
almost
to
tire
of
the
sound
,
and
the
mind
,
anxious
for
friends
at
sea
,
despair
of
their
cessation
.
During
the
few
calm
days
,
the
young
party
at
Oakwood
had
scarcely
been
absent
from
the
windows
,
or
from
that
part
of
the
park
leading
to
the
Plymouth
road
,
above
an
hour
at
a
time
.
Percy
and
Herbert
rode
over
to
Plymouth
,
but
were
told
the
frigate
could
not
be
in
for
a
full
week
.
The
late
storms
must
have
detained
her
,
though
she
was
a
fast-sailing
craft
.
It
was
a
great
disappointment
to
them
,
for
on
the
10th
of
October
college
term
began
,
and
they
were
compelled
to
return
to
Oxford
.
The
cause
of
their
mother
's
intense
desire
for
Edward
's
return
,
indeed
,
they
did
not
know
;
but
they
were
most
impatient
to
see
him
,
and
they
hoped
,
they
did
not
exactly
know
what
,
with
regard
to
his
influence
with
Ellen
.
However
,
the
day
of
their
departure
came
,
and
still
he
had
not
arrived
,
and
the
storms
had
recommenced
.
Percy
had
gone
to
say
good-by
to
Ellis
,
with
whom
Ellen
chanced
at
that
moment
to
be
.
Full
of
spirits
and
jokes
,
he
determinately
looked
away
from
his
cousin
,
took
both
Ellis
's
hands
,
and
shook
them
with
his
usual
heartiness
.
"
Good-by
,
dear
Ellis
.
I
wonder
if
I
shall
ever
feel
myself
a
man
when
talking
to
you
.
How
many
tricks
I
have
played
you
in
this
room
,
and
you
were
always
so
good-natured
,
even
when
one
of
my
seat-crackers
set
your
best
gown
on
fire
,
and
quite
spoiled
it
;
do
you
remember
it
?
I
do
think
you
were
nearly
angry
then
,
and
quite
enough
to
make
you
;
and
papa
made
me
save
up
my
money
to
buy
you
a
new
dress
.
I
did
not
play
such
a
practical
joke
in
a
hurry
again
.
"
Ellis
laughed
and
perfectly
remembered
it
,
and
with
another
hearty
good-by
he
turned
away
.
"
You
have
forgotten
your
cousin
,
Mr.
Percy
,
"
she
said
,
disregarding
Ellen
's
imploring
look
.
"
When
she
remembers
her
duty
to
my
mother
,
I
will
remember
that
she
is
my
cousin
,
"
was
his
hasty
answer
,
and
he
hurried
from
the
room
as
Herbert
entered
.
His
good-by
to
Ellis
was
quite
as
warm
as
Percy
's
,
and
then
turning
to
Ellen
,
he
put
his
arm
round
her
,
kissed
her
cheek
,
and
said
,
with
impressive
earnestness
—
"
God
bless
you
,
dear
Ellen
!
I
hope
you
will
be
happier
when
we
meet
again
,
and
that
it
will
not
be
so
long
before
we
do
,
as
we
fancy
now
;
"
and
,
affected
almost
to
tears
at
the
grateful
,
humble
look
she
raised
to
his
,
he
left
her
.
Overcome
as
much
by
the
harshness
of
the
generous
,
warm-hearted
Percy
,
whom
she
so
dearly
loved
,
as
by
the
gentle
kindness
of
Herbert
,
Ellen
remained
for
several
minutes
with
her
arms
on
the
table
,
her
face
hid
upon
them
.
She
thought
she
was
quite
alone
,
for
Ellis
had
gone
about
some
of
her
business
,
when
she
was
startled
by
Percy
's
voice
.
"
I
am
a
brute
,
Ellen
,
nothing
less
;
forgive
me
,
and
say
good-by
.
I
ca
n't
understand
it
at
all
,
but
angry
as
I
am
with
you
,
your
pale
face
haunts
me
like
a
specter
,
so
we
must
part
friends
;
"
and
as
she
looked
hastily
up
,
he
kissed
her
warmly
twice
,
and
ran
away
without
another
word
.
Days
passed
heavily
,
the
gales
seeming
to
increase
in
violence
,
and
causing
Mrs.
Hamilton
more
terrible
anxiety
and
vague
dread
than
she
allowed
to
be
visible
.
The
damage
among
the
shipping
was
fearful
,
and
the
very
supposed
vicinity
of
the
frigate
to
the
Channel
increased
the
danger
.
The
papers
every
morning
presented
long
lists
of
ships
wrecked
,
or
fatally
dismantled
,
loss
of
crews
or
part
of
them
,
mails
and
cargoes
due
but
missing
:
and
the
vivid
recollection
of
the
supposed
fate
of
her
own
brother
,
the
wretchedness
of
the
suspense
before
the
fate
of
his
vessel
was
ascertained
,
returned
to
heighten
the
fears
that
would
gain
ascendency
for
her
nephew
,
and
for
the
effect
of
this
terrible
suspense
on
Ellen
,
more
especially
—
if
indeed
she
had
endured
all
these
weeks
,
nay
,
months
,
of
misery
for
him
.
At
first
Ellen
seemed
unconscious
that
there
was
any
thing
remarkable
in
the
delay
,
the
thought
of
her
own
departure
being
uppermost
;
but
when
the
thought
did
press
upon
her
,
how
it
came
she
knew
not
—
that
of
the
given
month
the
weeks
were
passing
,
and
Edward
had
not
arrived
,
and
that
there
must
be
some
reason
for
the
long
delay
—
storm
,
shipwreck
,
death
,
all
flashed
upon
her
at
once
,
and
almost
maddened
her
.
The
quiet
calm
of
endurance
gave
way
.
She
could
not
sleep
at
night
from
the
tremendous
winds
;
not
even
when
Ellis
had
a
bed
put
up
in
her
room
,
and
remained
with
her
all
night
herself
;
she
never
complained
indeed
,
but
hour
after
hour
she
would
pace
her
room
and
the
passage
leading
to
Ellis
's
,
till
compelled
to
cease
from
exhaustion
;
she
would
try
steadily
to
employ
herself
with
some
difficult
study
,
and
succeed
,
perhaps
,
for
half
an
hour
,
but
then
remain
powerless
,
or
recommence
her
restless
walk
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
made
several
attempts
without
any
apparent
interference
on
her
part
,
to
get
her
to
sit
occasionally
with
her
and
Miss
Harcourt
,
and
her
cousins
,
but
she
seemed
to
shrink
from
them
all
.
Emmeline
,
indeed
,
when
once
aware
of
the
terrible
trial
she
was
enduring
,
would
sit
with
her
,
drawing
or
working
as
if
nothing
had
occurred
to
estrange
them
,
and
try
to
cheer
her
by
talking
on
many
topics
of
interest
.
Caroline
would
speak
to
her
kindly
whenever
she
saw
her
.
Miss
Harcourt
alone
retained
her
indignation
,
for
no
suspicion
of
the
real
cause
of
her
silence
ever
entered
her
mind
.
Poor
Ellen
felt
that
she
dared
not
indulge
in
the
comfort
this
change
in
her
aunt
's
and
cousins
'
manner
produced
.
She
wanted
to
wean
herself
quite
from
them
,
that
the
pang
of
separation
might
be
less
severe
,
but
she
only
seemed
to
succeed
in
loving
them
more
.
One
thought
,
indeed
,
at
length
took
such
entire
possession
of
her
mind
,
as
to
deaden
every
other
:
—
it
was
the
horrible
idea
that
as
she
had
sinned
to
save
Edward
,
perhaps
,
from
merited
disgrace
,
he
would
be
taken
from
her
;
she
never
breathed
it
,
but
it
haunted
her
night
and
day
.
Mr.
Maitland
saw
her
continually
,
but
he
plainly
told
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
while
the
cause
of
anxiety
and
mental
suffering
lasted
he
could
do
her
no
good
.
It
was
a
constant
alternation
of
fearful
excitement
and
complete
depression
,
exhausting
the
whole
system
.
Repose
and
kindness
—
alas
!
the
latter
might
be
given
,
but
the
former
,
in
the
present
position
of
affairs
,
how
could
it
be
insured
?
The
month
of
grace
was
waning
;
only
two
days
remained
,
and
Edward
had
not
arrived
,
and
how
could
Mrs.
Hamilton
obey
her
husband
—
whose
every
letter
reiterated
his
hope
that
she
had
not
been
prevailed
on
to
alter
his
sentence
,
if
Ellen
still
remained
silent
—
and
send
her
niece
from
her
?
She
came
at
length
to
the
determination
,
that
if
another
week
passed
and
still
there
were
no
tidings
,
not
to
let
this
fearful
self-sacrifice
,
if
it
really
were
such
,
last
any
longer
,
but
gently
,
cautiously
,
tenderly
as
she
could
,
prevail
on
Ellen
to
confide
all
to
her
,
and
promise
,
if
Edward
really
had
been
erring
and
in
difficulties
,
all
should
be
forgiven
for
her
sake
,
and
even
his
uncle
's
anger
averted
.
Once
her
determination
taken
,
she
felt
better
enabled
to
endure
an
anxiety
which
was
injuring
her
almost
as
much
as
Ellen
;
and
she
turned
to
Ellis
's
room
,
which
she
had
lately
very
often
frequented
,
for
she
scarcely
felt
comfortable
when
Ellen
was
out
of
her
sight
,
though
she
had
full
confidence
in
Ellis
's
care
.
Ellen
was
asleep
on
a
sofa
,
looking
so
wan
,
so
haggard
—
so
altered
from
the
Ellen
of
five
short
months
back
,
that
Mrs.
Hamilton
sat
down
by
her
side
,
pondering
whether
she
was
doing
right
to
wait
even
another
week
,
before
she
should
try
to
bring
relief
by
avowing
her
suspicions
—
but
would
it
bring
relief
?
and
,
after
all
,
was
it
for
Edward
?
or
,
had
she
been
allowing
affection
and
imagination
to
mislead
and
soften
,
when
sternness
might
still
be
needed
?
Ellen
woke
with
a
start
as
from
some
fearful
dream
,
and
gazed
at
Mrs.
Hamilton
for
a
full
minute
,
as
if
she
did
not
know
her
.
"
My
dear
Ellen
,
what
is
it
?
You
have
been
sleeping
uncomfortably
—
surely
you
know
me
?
"
"
I
thought
I
was
at
—
at
—
Seldon
Grange
—
are
you
sure
I
am
not
?
Dear
aunt
Emmeline
,
do
tell
me
I
am
at
Oakwood
,
I
know
I
am
to
go
,
and
very
soon
;
but
I
am
not
there
now
,
am
I
?
"
and
she
put
one
hand
to
her
forehead
,
and
gazed
hurriedly
and
fearfully
round
her
,
while
,
with
the
other
,
she
held
tightly
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
dress
.
There
was
something
alarming
both
in
her
look
and
tone
.
"
No
,
love
,
you
are
with
me
still
at
Oakwood
,
and
you
will
not
go
from
me
till
you
have
been
with
Edward
some
little
time
.
You
can
not
think
I
would
send
you
away
now
,
Ellen
?
"
The
soothing
tone
,
her
brother
's
name
,
seemed
to
disperse
the
cloud
,
and
bursting
into
tears
,
she
exclaimed
—
"
He
will
never
come
—
I
know
he
will
never
come
—
my
sin
has
killed
him
!
"
"
Your
sin
,
Ellen
,
what
can
that
have
to
do
with
Edward
?
"
"
Because
,
"
the
words
"
it
was
for
him
"
were
actually
on
her
lips
;
but
they
were
checked
,
and
,
in
increasing
excitement
,
she
continued
—
"
Nothing
,
nothing
,
indeed
,
with
him
—
what
could
it
have
?
But
if
he
knows
it
—
oh
,
it
will
so
grieve
him
;
perhaps
it
would
be
better
I
should
go
before
he
comes
—
and
then
,
then
,
he
need
not
know
it
;
if
,
indeed
,
he
ever
comes
.
"
"
I
do
not
think
you
quite
know
what
you
are
saying
,
my
dear
Ellen
;
your
uncomfortable
dream
has
unsettled
you
.
Try
and
keep
quiet
for
an
hour
,
and
you
will
be
better
.
Remember
,
suffering
as
this
dreadful
suspense
is
,
your
brother
is
still
in
a
Father
's
gracious
keeping
;
and
that
He
will
listen
to
your
prayers
for
his
safety
,
and
if
it
be
His
good
pleasure
,
still
restore
him
to
you
.
"
"
My
prayers
,
"
answered
Ellen
,
fearfully
.
"
Mr.
Howard
said
,
there
was
a
barrier
between
Him
and
me
,
while
I
would
not
confess
;
I
had
refused
His
mercy
.
"
"
Can
you
confess
before
God
,
Ellen
?
Can
you
lay
your
whole
heart
open
before
Him
,
and
ask
Him
in
his
infinite
mercy
,
and
for
your
Saviour
's
sake
,
to
forgive
you
?
"
"
I
could
,
and
did
do
so
,
"
answered
Ellen
,
returning
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
earnestly
inquiring
look
,
by
raising
her
large
,
expressive
eyes
,
steadily
and
fearlessly
,
to
her
face
;
"
but
Mr.
Howard
told
me
it
was
a
mockery
and
sin
to
suppose
God
would
hear
me
or
forgive
me
while
I
refused
to
obey
Him
,
by
being
silent
and
obdurate
to
you
.
That
if
I
wished
His
forgiveness
,
I
must
prove
it
by
telling
the
whole
to
you
,
whom
His
commandments
desired
me
to
obey
,
and
—
and
—
as
I
dared
not
do
that
,
I
have
been
afraid
to
pray
.
"
And
the
shudder
with
which
she
laid
her
head
again
upon
the
pillow
,
betrayed
the
misery
of
the
fear
.
"
And
is
it
impossible
,
quite
impossible
that
you
can
confide
the
source
of
your
grief
and
difficulty
to
me
,
Ellen
?
Will
you
not
do
so
,
even
if
I
promise
forgiveness
,
not
merely
to
you
,
but
to
all
who
may
have
erred
?
Answer
me
,
my
sweet
child
;
your
silence
is
fearfully
injuring
your
mind
and
body
.
Why
do
you
fancy
you
dare
not
tell
me
?
"
"
Because
,
because
I
have
promised
!
"
answered
Ellen
,
in
a
fearful
tone
of
returning
excitement
,
and
,
sitting
upright
,
she
clasped
her
hands
convulsively
together
,
while
her
cheek
burned
with
painful
brilliancy
.
"
Aunt
Emmeline
—
oh
,
do
not
,
pray
do
not
speak
to
me
in
that
kind
tone
!
be
harsh
and
cold
again
,
I
can
bear
it
better
.
If
you
did
but
know
how
my
heart
and
brain
ache
—
how
they
long
to
tell
you
and
so
rest
—
but
I
can
not
—
I
dare
not
—
I
have
promised
.
"
"
And
you
may
not
tell
me
whom
you
have
promised
?
"
replied
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
every
former
thought
rendered
apparently
null
and
vain
by
these
words
,
and
painfully
disappointing
her
;
but
the
answer
terrified
her
.
"
Mamma
—
I
promised
her
,
and
she
stands
by
me
so
pale
,
so
grieved
,
whenever
I
think
of
telling
you
,
"
answered
Ellen
,
clinging
to
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
but
looking
with
a
strained
gaze
of
terror
on
vacancy
.
"
I
thought
I
must
have
told
you
,
when
you
said
I
was
to
go
—
to
go
to
Seldon
Grange
—
but
she
stood
by
me
and
laid
her
hand
on
my
head
,
and
it
was
so
cold
,
so
heavy
,
I
do
n't
remember
any
thing
more
till
I
found
you
and
Ellis
leaning
over
me
;
but
I
ought
not
to
tell
you
even
this
.
I
know
I
ought
not
—
for
look
—
look
,
aunt
Emmeline
!
—
do
n't
you
see
mamma
—
there
—
quite
close
to
me
;
oh
,
tell
her
to
forgive
me
—
I
will
keep
my
promise
,
"
and
shuddering
convulsively
,
she
hid
her
face
in
her
aunt
's
dress
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
was
dreadfully
alarmed
.
Whatever
the
foundation
,
and
she
had
no
doubt
that
there
was
some
,
and
that
it
really
had
to
do
with
Edward
and
his
poor
mother
's
mistaken
partiality
,
Ellen
's
imagination
was
evidently
disordered
.
To
attempt
obtaining
the
truth
,
while
she
was
in
this
fearful
state
of
excitement
,
was
as
impossible
as
cruel
,
and
she
tried
only
to
soothe
her
to
composure
;
speaking
of
her
mother
as
happy
and
in
Heaven
and
that
Ellen
had
thought
of
her
so
much
,
as
was
quite
natural
in
her
sorrow
,
that
she
fancied
she
saw
her
.
"
It
is
not
reality
,
love
;
if
she
could
see
and
speak
to
you
,
I
am
sure
it
would
be
to
tell
you
to
confide
all
your
sorrow
to
me
,
if
it
would
make
you
happier
.
"
"
Oh
,
no
,
no
—
I
should
be
very
wicked
if
it
made
me
happier
;
I
ought
not
even
to
wish
to
tell
you
.
But
Mr.
Myrvin
told
me
,
even
when
mamma
went
to
Heaven
,
she
would
still
see
me
,
and
know
if
I
kept
my
promise
,
and
tried
to
win
her
love
,
by
doing
what
I
know
she
wished
,
even
after
she
was
dead
;
and
it
was
almost
a
pleasure
to
do
so
till
now
,
even
if
it
gave
me
pain
and
made
me
unhappy
;
but
now
,
now
,
aunt
Emmeline
,
I
know
you
must
hate
me
;
you
never
,
never
can
love
me
again
—
and
that
—
that
is
so
hard
to
bear
.
"
"
Have
you
forgotten
,
my
dear
Ellen
,
the
blessed
assurance
,
there
is
more
joy
in
Heaven
over
one
sinner
that
repenteth
,
than
over
ninety-and-nine
who
have
not
sinned
?
and
if
our
Father
in
Heaven
can
so
feel
,
so
act
,
are
His
creatures
to
do
less
?
Do
you
think
,
because
you
have
given
me
pain
,
and
trouble
and
disappointment
,
and
compelled
me
to
use
such
extreme
severity
,
and
cause
you
so
much
suffering
,
that
it
will
be
quite
impossible
for
me
to
love
you
again
,
if
I
see
you
do
all
you
can
to
win
back
that
love
?
"
Ellen
made
no
answer
;
but
the
alarming
excitement
had
so
far
subsided
,
as
to
raise
the
hope
that
quietness
would
subdue
it
altogether
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
remained
with
her
till
she
seemed
quite
calm
,
and
would
not
have
left
her
then
,
but
he
had
promised
Caroline
to
drive
with
her
into
T
—
—
that
afternoon
,
to
make
some
purchases
;
Emmeline
and
Miss
Harcourt
were
spending
the
day
at
Greville
Manor
,
and
her
daughter
depending
on
her
,
she
did
not
like
to
disappoint
her
.
But
the
difficulty
to
think
of
other
things
,
and
cheerfully
converse
on
comparatively
indifferent
topics
,
was
greater
than
she
had
ever
found
it
.
That
Ellis
's
surmise
was
correct
,
she
had
no
longer
the
smallest
doubt
.
Ellen
was
sacrificing
herself
,
not
merely
for
the
love
she
bore
her
brother
,
but
from
some
real
or
imaginary
promise
to
her
poor
mother
.
What
its
exact
nature
was
,
she
could
not
indeed
satisfy
herself
,
but
that
it
had
something
to
do
with
concealing
Edward
's
faults
seemed
to
flash
upon
her
,
she
hardly
knew
how
.
Ellis
's
words
"
that
she
had
seen
enough
of
that
work
when
they
were
children
,
"
returned
to
her
,
and
various
incongruities
in
Ellen
's
character
and
conduct
which
she
had
been
unable
to
reconcile
at
the
time
,
all
seemed
connected
with
it
.
But
to
arrive
at
the
truth
was
much
more
difficult
than
ever
;
still
,
how
could
she
send
Ellen
away
?
and
yet
,
if
still
silent
,
would
mere
surmise
satisfy
her
husband
?
There
was
but
one
hope
,
one
ray
of
light
—
Edward
's
own
honor
,
if
indeed
he
were
permitted
to
return
;
and
even
while
driving
and
talking
with
Caroline
,
her
heart
was
one
fervent
prayer
that
this
might
be
,
and
the
fearful
struggle
of
her
devoted
Ellen
cease
.
Her
aunt
's
gentle
and
unexpected
kindness
had
had
such
a
beneficial
effect
on
Ellen
,
that
,
after
her
early
dinner
,
about
three
o'clock
,
she
told
Ellis
she
would
go
in
the
school-room
,
and
try
and
read
there
for
an
hour
;
she
knew
all
the
family
were
out
,
and
therefore
would
be
quite
undisturbed
.
Ellis
willingly
acquiesced
,
rejoicing
that
she
should
seek
any
change
herself
,
and
advised
her
,
as
it
was
such
a
mild
,
soft
afternoon
,
after
the
late
storms
,
to
take
a
turn
on
the
terrace
,
on
which
a
glass-door
from
the
school-room
opened
;
it
would
do
her
good
.
Ellen
meant
to
take
her
advice
,
but
as
she
looked
out
from
a
window
over
a
well-remembered
landscape
,
so
many
painful
thoughts
and
recollections
crowded
on
her
,
that
she
lost
all
inclination
to
move
.
She
had
not
stood
there
for
many
weeks
,
and
it
seemed
to
her
that
the
view
had
never
looked
so
very
lovely
.
The
trees
all
had
the
last
glories
of
autumn
—
for
it
was
early
in
November
—
the
grass
was
of
that
beautiful
humid
emerald
which
always
follows
heavy
rain
,
and
though
the
summer-flowers
had
all
gone
,
the
sheltered
beds
of
the
garden
,
lying
beneath
the
terrace
,
presented
many
very
beautiful
still
.
The
end
of
the
terrace
,
a
flight
of
stone
steps
,
overlooked
the
avenue
,
leading
from
the
principal
lodge
to
the
main
entrance
,
and
where
Ellen
stood
,
she
could
distinguish
a
few
yards
of
the
path
where
it
issued
from
some
distant
trees
.
She
gazed
at
first
,
conscious
only
that
she
was
banished
from
it
all
,
and
that
,
however
long
her
departure
might
be
deferred
,
she
must
go
at
last
,
for
her
uncle
's
mandate
could
not
be
disobeyed
;
but
gradually
her
eye
became
fixed
as
in
fascination
.
A
single
figure
was
emerging
from
the
trees
,
and
dressed
in
the
uniform
of
a
midshipman
—
she
was
sure
it
was
!
but
it
was
a
figure
so
tall
,
so
slim
,
his
step
so
lingering
,
it
could
not
be
Edward
,
most
likely
some
one
of
his
messmates
come
to
tell
his
fate
.
He
was
taller
even
than
Percy
,
but
so
much
slighter
,
so
different
to
the
boy
from
whom
she
had
parted
,
that
,
though
her
heart
bounded
and
sunk
till
faintness
seemed
to
overpower
her
,
she
could
not
convince
herself
it
was
he
.
With
an
almost
unconscious
effort
she
ran
out
,
through
the
glass-door
,
to
the
steps
of
the
terrace
;
she
could
now
see
him
distinctly
,
but
not
his
face
,
for
his
cap
was
low
over
his
forehead
;
but
as
he
approached
,
he
paused
,
as
if
doubting
whether
to
go
up
to
the
hall
door
,
or
the
well-known
terrace
,
by
which
he
had
always
rushed
into
the
school-room
,
on
his
daily
return
from
Mr.
Howard
's
;
and
as
he
looked
hastily
up
,
his
cap
fell
back
,
and
his
eyes
met
Ellen
's
.
A
wild
but
checked
scream
broke
from
her
lips
,
and
all
was
an
impenetrable
mist
till
she
found
herself
in
her
brother
's
arms
,
in
the
room
she
had
quitted
,
his
lips
repeatedly
pressing
her
cheek
and
forehead
,
and
his
voice
,
which
sounded
so
strange
—
it
did
not
seem
like
Edward
's
,
it
was
so
much
more
deep
and
manly
—
entreating
her
to
speak
to
him
,
and
tell
him
why
she
looked
so
ill
;
but
still
her
heart
so
throbbed
she
could
not
speak
.
She
could
only
cling
close
to
him
and
look
intently
in
his
face
,
which
was
so
altered
from
the
happy
,
laughing
boy
,
that
had
he
not
been
,
from
his
extreme
paleness
and
attenuation
of
feature
,
still
more
like
their
mother
when
she
was
ill
,
his
sister
would
scarcely
have
known
him
.
"
Dearest
Ellen
,
do
speak
to
me
;
what
has
been
the
matter
,
that
you
look
so
pale
and
sad
?
Are
you
not
glad
to
see
me
?
"
"
Glad
!
oh
,
Edward
,
you
can
not
know
how
glad
;
I
thought
you
would
never
,
never
come
,
the
storms
have
been
so
terrible
;
I
have
been
ill
,
and
your
sudden
appearance
startled
me
,
for
I
had
thought
of
such
dreadful
things
,
and
that
was
the
reason
I
could
not
speak
at
first
;
but
I
am
sure
you
are
as
pale
as
I
am
,
dear
,
dear
Edward
;
you
have
been
wounded
—
have
you
not
recovered
them
yet
?
"
"
My
wounds
,
Ellen
!
oh
,
they
were
slight
enough
;
I
wished
and
tried
for
them
to
be
severer
,
to
have
done
for
me
at
once
,
but
they
would
not
,
they
only
bought
me
praise
,
praise
which
maddened
me
!
"
"
Sir
Edward
,
"
murmured
Ellen
,
in
a
low
,
fearful
voice
,
"
how
did
he
part
with
you
?
"
"
As
he
has
always
treated
me
,
a
kind
,
too
kind
father
!
oh
,
Ellen
,
Ellen
,
if
he
did
but
know
the
deceiving
villain
that
I
am
!
"
"
Would
he
indeed
not
forgive
,
Edward
,
if
he
so
loves
you
?
not
if
he
knew
all
,
the
temptation
,
the
—
"
"
Temptation
,
Ellen
!
what
excuse
ought
there
to
be
in
temptation
?
Why
was
I
such
a
fool
,
such
a
madman
,
to
allow
myself
to
be
lured
into
error
again
and
again
by
that
villain
,
after
I
had
discovered
his
double
face
,
and
I
had
been
warned
against
him
,
too
?
Why
did
I
so
madly
disregard
Mr.
Howard
's
and
my
uncle
's
warning
letters
,
trusting
my
self-will
and
folly
,
instead
of
their
experience
?
Brave
!
I
am
the
veriest
coward
that
ever
trod
the
deck
,
because
I
could
not
bear
a
sneer
!
"
"
And
he
?
are
you
still
within
his
power
?
"
inquired
Ellen
,
shrinking
in
terror
from
the
expression
of
her
brother
's
face
.
"
No
,
Ellen
,
no
;
God
forgive
me
—
I
have
tried
not
to
rejoice
;
the
death
was
so
terrible
,
so
nearly
my
own
,
that
I
stood
appalled
,
and
,
for
the
first
time
these
two
years
,
knelt
down
to
my
God
for
pardon
,
mercy
to
repent
.
The
lightning
struck
him
where
he
stood
,
struck
him
beside
me
,
leaving
the
withering
smile
of
derisive
mockery
,
with
which
he
had
that
moment
been
regarding
me
,
still
on
his
lips
.
Why
,
and
where
had
he
gone
?
he
,
who
denied
God
and
his
holy
Word
,
turned
the
solemn
service
into
mockery
,
and
made
me
like
himself
—
and
why
was
I
spared
?
Oh
,
Ellen
,
I
have
no
words
to
describe
the
sensation
of
that
moment
!
"
He
stopped
,
and
shuddered
,
then
continued
,
hurriedly
,
"
Changed
as
I
am
in
appearance
,
it
is
nothing
to
the
change
within
.
I
did
not
know
its
extent
till
now
that
I
am
here
again
,
and
all
my
happy
boyhood
comes
before
me
;
aunt
Emmeline
's
gentle
lessons
of
piety
and
goodness
—
oh
,
Ellen
,
Ellen
,
what
have
been
their
fruits
?
For
two
years
I
have
given
myself
up
to
passion
,
unrestrained
by
one
word
,
one
thought
of
prayer
;
I
dared
,
sinful
madman
as
I
was
,
to
make
a
compact
with
my
own
conscience
,
and
vow
,
that
if
I
received
the
relief
I
expected
from
you
,
and
was
free
from
Harding
,
I
would
reform
,
would
pray
for
the
strength
to
resist
temptation
,
which
I
had
not
in
myself
;
and
when
,
when
the
man
that
was
dispatched
by
Sir
Edward
from
the
shore
,
with
the
letters
for
the
crew
,
sunk
beneath
the
waves
,
bearing
every
dispatch
along
with
him
,
I
cursed
him
,
and
the
Fate
,
which
had
ordained
his
death
.
Ellen
,
Ellen
!
why
was
I
saved
,
and
Harding
killed
!
"
"
And
you
never
received
my
letter
,
Edward
?
Never
knew
if
I
had
tried
to
relieve
you
from
Harding
's
power
?
"
answered
Ellen
,
becoming
so
deadly
pale
,
that
Edward
forced
himself
to
regain
composure
;
the
nature
of
his
information
causing
such
a
revulsion
of
feeling
in
his
sister
as
to
deaden
her
to
the
horror
of
his
words
.
For
what
had
all
this
suffering
been
?
"
I
was
sure
you
had
,
Ellen
,
for
you
always
did
,
and
I
could
trust
you
as
I
could
myself
.
A
sudden
squall
had
upset
the
boat
,
and
the
man
was
so
encumbered
by
a
large
great-coat
,
every
pocket
filled
with
letters
and
papers
,
that
he
sunk
at
once
though
every
help
was
offered
.
I
threw
myself
into
the
sea
to
save
him
,
and
Lieutenant
Morley
praised
my
courage
and
benevolence
—
little
did
he
know
my
motive
!
Besides
,
Sir
Edward
told
me
there
was
an
inclosure
for
me
in
my
uncle
's
to
him
,
and
regretted
he
had
not
kept
it
to
give
it
me
himself
—
would
to
Heaven
he
had
!
Till
Harding
's
death
I
was
in
his
power
;
and
he
had
so
used
it
,
that
I
had
vowed
,
on
our
arrival
in
England
,
to
abscond
,
hide
myself
forever
,
go
I
cared
not
where
,
nor
in
what
character
!
But
he
is
dead
,
and
I
am
free
:
my
tale
need
be
told
to
none
,
and
if
I
can
I
will
break
from
this
fatal
spell
,
and
redeem
the
past
;
but
it
seems
,
as
if
fiends
urged
me
still
to
the
path
of
evil
!
Would
that
I
had
but
courage
to
tell
all
to
Mr.
Howard
,
I
should
be
safer
then
;
but
I
can
not
—
can
not
—
the
risk
is
too
great
.
Carriage
wheels
!
"
he
added
,
starting
up
—
"
my
aunt
and
Caroline
;
oh
,
how
I
rejoiced
when
they
told
me
at
the
lodge
that
my
uncle
was
not
here
!
"
And
in
his
extreme
agitation
at
the
thought
of
meeting
his
aunt
,
he
forgot
his
sister
,
or
he
might
have
been
startled
at
the
effect
of
his
words
.
CHAPTER
VIII
.
THE
STRUGGLE
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
had
been
told
at
the
lodge
of
her
nephew
's
arrival
,
and
so
powerful
was
her
emotion
,
that
she
leaned
back
in
the
carriage
,
as
it
drove
rapidly
from
the
lodge
to
the
Hall
,
without
the
power
of
uttering
a
word
.
Caroline
was
surprised
,
for
his
return
seemed
to
her
only
a
cause
of
rejoicing
;
she
had
no
idea
of
the
mingled
dread
and
joy
,
the
trembling
,
lest
Edward
had
indeed
deceived
them
all
,
and
,
if
he
had
not
,
the
redoubled
mystery
of
Ellen
's
conduct
.
While
he
was
absent
she
could
think
calmly
on
him
as
the
cause
of
all
,
but
now
that
he
was
returned
,
her
heart
seemed
to
turn
sick
with
apprehension
,
and
she
had
hardly
strength
to
inquire
where
he
was
,
and
great
was
her
surprise
when
she
found
his
arrival
was
still
unknown
.
Caroline
's
joyful
exclamation
as
she
ran
into
the
school-room
to
put
away
some
of
her
purchases
,
drew
her
there
at
once
;
and
for
the
first
five
minutes
the
intense
thankfulness
that
he
was
indeed
safe
and
comparatively
well
—
that
whatever
might
be
the
secret
change
,
his
affection
for
her
,
to
judge
by
the
warmth
,
and
agitation
of
his
embrace
,
was
unchanged
,
and
she
had
that
to
work
on
,
alone
occupied
her
mind
and
enabled
her
to
regain
her
calmness
.
"
You
do
indeed
look
as
if
you
wanted
English
air
and
home
nursing
,
my
dear
boy
,
"
she
said
,
after
some
little
time
had
elapsed
,
and
Edward
had
seated
himself
by
her
,
his
hand
still
clasped
in
hers
;
"
Sir
Edward
was
quite
right
to
invalid
you
.
Emmeline
does
nothing
but
talk
of
your
wounds
as
making
you
a
complete
hero
;
I
am
unromantic
enough
to
wish
that
you
had
brought
me
home
more
color
and
more
flesh
,
and
less
glory
;
but
,
I
suppose
from
being
so
pale
,
you
are
more
like
your
poor
mother
than
ever
;
"
and
she
looked
at
him
so
earnestly
,
that
Edward
's
eyes
,
spite
of
all
his
efforts
,
sunk
beneath
hers
.
He
answered
gayly
,
however
,
and
,
in
reply
to
Caroline
's
numerous
queries
,
entered
into
an
animated
description
of
their
voyage
home
and
the
causes
of
their
detention
,
in
their
being
so
often
compelled
to
put
into
port
from
the
fearful
storms
they
had
encountered
,
and
time
slipped
away
so
fast
that
the
dinner-bell
rung
before
any
one
was
prepared
.
That
Ellen
should
look
paler
than
even
when
she
had
left
her
in
the
morning
,
and
be
still
more
silent
,
did
not
astonish
Mrs.
Hamilton
;
the
agitation
of
meeting
her
brother
was
quite
enough
to
occasion
it
;
and
she
advised
her
to
remain
quiet
while
they
were
at
dinner
,
that
she
might
rejoin
them
afterward
.
She
looked
as
if
she
had
been
so
very
lately
ill
,
that
Edward
was
not
surprised
at
her
having
dined
already
;
but
many
little
things
that
occured
during
the
evening
—
her
excessive
quietness
,
the
evident
restraint
between
her
and
Caroline
,
and
,
he
at
first
fancied
,
and
then
was
quite
certain
,
between
her
and
his
aunt
,
startled
and
perplexed
him
.
She
seemed
restrained
and
shy
,
too
,
with
him
,
as
if
in
constant
terror
.
Poor
child
!
her
aunt
had
advised
quietness
while
alone
,
and
her
brother
's
words
rung
in
her
ears
,
till
repose
seemed
farther
off
than
ever
.
After
all
she
had
suffered
before
,
and
after
the
sending
that
fatal
letter
,
it
had
never
reached
him
:
she
had
utterly
failed
in
her
attempt
to
save
him
.
If
she
had
,
indeed
,
confided
at
first
in
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
measures
would
have
been
taken
,
she
was
sure
,
to
have
secured
him
the
necessary
relief
,
for
whenever
her
uncle
had
sent
him
his
allowance
it
was
through
Sir
Edward
,
not
encountering
the
risk
of
the
loss
of
the
letter
.
There
had
been
times
when
,
in
the
midst
of
her
sufferings
,
Ellen
could
realize
a
sort
of
comfort
in
the
idea
that
she
had
saved
Edward
and
kept
his
secret
;
but
where
was
this
comfort
now
?
All
she
had
endured
all
she
was
still
to
endure
,
was
for
nothing
,
worse
than
nothing
;
for
if
Edward
knew
her
sin
,
feeling
that
it
had
brought
him
no
good
,
and
given
up
,
as
she
felt
he
must
be
,
to
unrestrained
passion
,
or
he
could
not
have
given
vent
to
such
fearful
sentiments
,
she
actually
trembled
for
its
effect
upon
him
and
his
anger
on
herself
.
She
had
sometimes
fancied
that
,
perhaps
,
his
errors
were
not
so
great
as
he
believed
them
,
that
he
would
confess
them
when
he
found
only
his
kind
,
indulgent
aunt
at
home
,
and
so
peace
and
hope
gradually
dawn
for
both
him
and
her
.
All
her
wish
,
her
hope
now
was
that
Mrs.
Hamilton
could
be
prevailed
upon
not
to
tell
him
what
she
had
done
,
for
whether
it
made
him
think
he
ought
to
confess
himself
its
cause
or
not
,
its
effect
on
him
would
be
so
terrible
,
that
she
felt
any
additional
suffering
to
herself
could
be
better
borne
.
With
these
thoughts
,
no
wonder
she
was
silent
,
utterly
unable
to
subdue
them
as
she
wished
,
and
evince
natural
interest
in
all
that
had
occurred
to
Edward
;
and
tell
him
all
that
had
happened
to
herself
