,assured
her
husband
she
would
leave
no
means
untried
to
prove
Robert
's
innocence
.
For
nearly
an
hour
that
same
night
did
Ellen
,
after
her
attendant
had
left
her
,
sit
crouched
by
the
side
of
her
bed
as
if
some
bolt
had
struck
and
withered
her
as
she
sat
.
One
word
alone
sounded
and
resounded
in
her
ears
;
she
had
known
it
,
pronounced
it
to
be
such
to
herself
numbers
of
times
,
but
it
had
never
mocked
and
maddened
her
as
when
spoken
in
her
uncle
's
voice
,
and
in
his
deepest
,
most
expressive
tone
—
"
theft
!
"
And
she
was
the
guilty
one
—
and
she
must
see
the
innocent
bearing
the
penalty
of
her
crime
,
suspicion
,
dislike
,
avoidance
,
for
she
dared
not
breathe
the
truth
.
Again
came
the
wild
,
almost
desperate
,
resolve
to
seek
Mrs.
Hamilton
that
very
moment
,
avow
herself
the
criminal
,
implore
her
to
take
back
every
trinket
belonging
to
her
,
to
replace
it
,
and
do
with
her
what
she
would
.
But
if
she
did
confess
,
and
so
draw
attention
to
her
,
how
could
she
keep
her
brother
's
secret
?
Could
she
have
firmness
to
bear
all
,
rather
than
betray
it
?
What
proof
of
her
inward
wretchedness
and
remorse
could
there
be
in
the
mere
confession
of
appropriation
,
when
the
use
to
which
she
had
applied
that
money
and
all
concerning
it
,
even
to
the
day
it
was
found
,
must
be
withheld
,
lest
it
should
in
any
way
be
connected
with
her
letter
to
her
brother
.
She
must
be
silent
;
and
the
only
prayer
which
,
night
and
morning
,
ay
,
almost
every
hour
,
rose
,
from
that
young
heart
,
was
for
death
,
ere
it
was
too
late
for
God
's
forgiveness
.
CHAPTER
IV
.
THE
BROKEN
DESK
The
many
secret
wishes
for
an
unfavorable
wind
,
that
Mr.
Hamilton
might
stay
at
Oakwood
still
a
little
longer
,
were
not
granted
,
and
he
left
his
family
the
very
day
he
had
fixed
,
the
14th
of
July
,
just
three
weeks
after
his
summons
,
and
about
ten
days
before
his
sons
were
expected
home
.
Without
him
Oakwood
was
strange
indeed
,
but
with
the
exception
of
Emmeline
,
all
seemed
determined
to
conquer
the
sadness
and
anxiety
,
which
the
departure
of
one
so
beloved
,
naturally
occasioned
.
Emmeline
was
so
unused
to
any
thing
like
personal
sorrow
,
that
she
rather
seemed
to
luxuriate
in
its
indulgence
.
"
Do
you
wish
to
both
disappoint
and
displease
me
,
my
dear
Emmeline
?
"
her
mother
said
,
one
day
,
about
a
week
after
her
husband
had
gone
,
as
she
entered
the
music-room
,
expecting
to
find
her
daughter
at
the
harp
,
but
perceiving
her
instead
,
listless
and
dispirited
,
on
the
sofa
.
"
Indeed
,
you
will
do
both
,
if
you
give
way
to
this
most
uncalled-for
gloom
.
"
"
Uncalled
for
,
"
replied
Emmeline
,
almost
pettishly
.
"
Quite
uncalled
for
,
to
the
extent
in
which
you
are
indulging
it
;
and
even
if
called
for
,
do
you
not
think
you
would
be
acting
more
correctly
,
if
you
thought
more
of
others
than
yourself
,
and
tried
to
become
your
own
cheerful
self
for
their
sakes
?
It
is
the
first
time
you
have
ever
given
me
cause
to
suspect
you
of
selfishness
;
and
I
am
disappointed
.
"
"
Selfishness
,
mamma
;
and
I
do
hate
the
thought
of
it
so
!
Am
I
selfish
?
"
she
repeated
,
her
voice
faltering
,
and
her
eyes
filling
fast
with
tears
.
"
I
hope
not
,
my
love
;
but
if
you
do
not
try
to
shake
off
this
depression
,
we
must
believe
you
to
be
so
.
Your
father
's
absence
is
a
still
greater
trial
to
Caroline
than
it
is
to
you
,
for
it
compels
a
very
bitter
disappointment
,
as
well
as
the
loss
of
his
society
;
and
yet
,
though
she
feels
both
deeply
,
she
has
exerted
herself
more
than
I
ever
saw
her
do
before
,
and
so
proves
,
more
than
any
words
or
tears
could
do
,
how
much
she
loves
both
him
and
me
.
"
"
And
do
you
think
I
love
you
both
,
less
than
she
does
?
"
replied
Emmeline
,
now
fairly
sobbing
.
"
No
,
dearest
;
but
I
want
you
to
prove
it
in
the
same
admirable
manner
.
Do
you
think
I
do
not
feel
your
father
's
absence
,
Emmeline
?
but
would
you
like
to
see
me
as
sad
and
changed
as
you
are
?
"
Emmeline
looked
up
in
her
face
,
for
there
was
something
in
the
tone
that
appealed
to
her
better
feelings
at
once
.
Throwing
her
arms
round
her
,
she
sobbed
—
"
Dear
mamma
,
do
forgive
me
.
I
see
now
I
have
been
very
selfish
and
very
weak
,
but
I
never
,
never
can
be
as
firm
and
self-controlled
as
you
and
Caroline
are
.
"
"
Do
not
say
never
,
love
,
or
you
will
never
try
to
be
so
.
I
am
quite
sure
you
would
not
like
to
be
one
of
those
weak
,
selfish
characters
,
who
lay
all
their
faults
,
and
all
the
mischief
their
faults
produce
,
on
a
supposed
impossibility
to
become
like
others
.
I
know
your
disposition
is
naturally
less
strong
and
firm
than
your
sister
's
,
but
it
is
more
elastic
,
and
still
more
joyous
;
and
so
had
you
not
too
weakly
encouraged
your
very
natural
sorrow
,
you
would
have
been
enabled
to
throw
it
off
,
and
in
the
comfort
such
an
exertion
would
have
brought
to
us
,
fully
recompensed
yourself
.
"
"
And
if
I
do
try
now
?
"
"
I
shall
be
quite
satisfied
,
dearest
;
though
I
fear
you
will
find
it
more
difficult
than
had
you
tried
a
few
days
ago
.
Confess
that
I
am
right
.
Did
you
not
,
after
the
first
two
or
three
days
,
feel
that
you
could
have
been
cheerful
again
,
at
least
at
times
,
but
that
you
fancied
you
had
not
felt
sorry
enough
,
and
so
increased
both
sorrow
and
anxiety
by
determinedly
dwelling
on
them
,
instead
of
seeking
some
pursuit
?
"
"
Dear
mamma
,
shall
I
never
be
able
to
hide
a
feeling
from
you
?
"
answered
Emmeline
,
so
astonished
,
that
her
tears
half
dried
.
"
I
did
not
know
I
felt
so
myself
till
you
put
it
before
me
,
and
now
I
know
that
I
really
did
.
Was
it
very
wrong
?
"
"
I
will
answer
your
question
by
another
,
love
.
Did
you
find
such
pertinacious
indulgence
of
gloom
,
help
you
to
bring
the
object
of
your
regret
and
anxiety
,
and
of
your
own
grief
before
your
Heavenly
Father
?
"
Emmeline
hesitated
,
but
only
for
a
minute
,
then
answered
,
with
a
crimson
blush
—
"
No
,
mamma
;
I
could
not
pray
to
God
to
protect
dear
papa
,
or
to
give
me
His
blessing
,
half
as
earnestly
and
believingly
as
when
I
was
happier
;
the
more
I
indulged
in
gloomy
thoughts
,
the
more
difficulty
I
had
to
turn
them
to
prayer
,
and
the
last
few
days
,
I
fear
I
have
not
even
tried
.
"
"
Then
,
dearest
,
is
it
necessary
for
me
to
answer
your
former
question
?
I
see
by
that
conscious
look
that
it
is
not
.
You
have
always
trusted
my
experience
and
affection
,
my
Emmeline
,
trust
them
now
,
and
try
my
plan
.
Think
of
your
dear
father
,
whom
you
can
not
love
too
well
,
or
whose
compelled
absence
really
regret
too
much
;
but
so
think
of
him
,
as
to
pray
continually
in
spirit
to
your
gracious
God
,
to
have
him
always
in
His
holy
keeping
,
either
on
sea
or
land
,
in
storm
or
calm
,
and
so
prosper
his
undertaking
,
as
to
permit
his
return
to
us
still
sooner
than
we
at
present
expect
.
The
very
constant
prayer
for
this
,
will
make
you
rest
secure
and
happy
in
the
belief
,
that
our
God
is
with
him
wherever
he
is
,
as
He
is
with
us
,
and
so
give
you
cheerfulness
and
courage
to
attend
to
your
daily
duties
,
and
conquer
any
thing
like
too
selfish
sorrow
.
Will
you
try
this
,
love
,
even
if
it
be
more
difficult
now
,
than
it
would
have
been
a
few
days
ago
?
"
"
I
will
indeed
,
mamma
,
"
and
she
raised
her
head
from
her
mother
's
shoulder
,
and
tried
to
smile
.
"
When
you
first
addressed
me
to-day
,
I
thought
you
were
almost
harsh
,
and
so
cold
—
so
you
see
even
there
I
was
thinking
wrong
—
and
now
I
am
glad
,
oh
,
so
glad
,
you
did
speak
to
me
!
"
"
And
I
know
who
will
be
glad
too
,
if
I
have
prevented
his
having
a
Niobe
for
his
Tiny
,
instead
of
the
Euphrosyne
,
which
I
believe
he
sometimes
calls
you
.
I
thought
there
was
one
particular
duet
that
Percy
is
to
be
so
charmed
with
,
Emmy
.
Suppose
you
try
it
now
.
"
And
,
her
tears
all
checked
,
her
most
unusual
gloom
dispersed
,
Emmeline
obeyed
with
alacrity
,
and
finding
,
when
she
had
once
begun
,
so
many
things
to
get
perfect
for
the
gratification
of
her
brothers
,
that
nearly
three
hours
slipped
away
quite
unconsciously
;
and
when
Caroline
returned
from
a
walk
,
she
was
astonished
at
the
change
in
her
sister
,
and
touched
by
the
affectionate
self-reproach
with
which
Emmeline
,
looking
up
in
her
face
,
exclaimed
—
"
Dear
Caroline
,
I
have
been
so
pettish
and
so
cross
to
you
since
papa
left
,
that
I
am
sure
you
must
be
quite
tired
of
me
;
but
I
am
going
to
be
really
a
heroine
now
,
and
not
a
shy
sentimental
one
;
and
bear
the
pain
of
papa
's
absence
as
bravely
as
you
do
.
"
And
she
did
so
;
though
at
first
it
was
,
as
her
mother
had
warned
her
,
very
difficult
to
compel
the
requisite
exertion
,
which
for
employment
and
cheerfulness
,
was
now
needed
;
but
when
the
will
is
right
,
there
is
little
fear
of
failure
.
As
each
day
passed
,
so
quickly
merging
into
weeks
,
that
five
had
now
slipped
away
since
that
fatal
letter
had
been
sent
to
Edward
,
the
difficulty
to
do
as
she
had
intended
,
entreat
Mrs.
Langford
to
dispose
of
her
trinkets
and
watch
,
became
to
Ellen
,
either
in
reality
or
seeming
,
more
and
more
difficult
.
Her
illness
had
confined
her
to
her
room
for
nearly
a
week
,
and
when
she
was
allowed
to
take
the
air
,
the
state
of
nervous
debility
to
which
it
had
reduced
her
,
of
course
prevented
her
ever
being
left
alone
.
The
day
after
Mr.
Hamilton
's
appeal
to
his
domestics
,
she
had
made
a
desperate
attempt
,
by
asking
permission
to
be
the
bearer
of
a
message
from
her
aunt
to
the
widow
;
and
as
the
girls
were
often
allowed
and
encouraged
to
visit
their
nurse
,
the
request
was
granted
without
any
surprise
,
though
to
the
very
last
moment
she
feared
one
of
her
cousins
or
Miss
Harcourt
would
offer
to
accompany
her
.
They
were
all
,
however
,
too
occupied
with
and
for
Mr.
Hamilton
,
and
she
sought
the
cottage
,
and
there
,
with
such
very
evident
mental
agony
,
besought
Mrs.
Langford
to
promise
her
secrecy
and
aid
,
that
the
widow
,
very
much
against
her
conscience
,
was
won
over
to
accede
.
She
was
in
most
pressing
want
of
money
,
she
urged
,
and
dared
not
appeal
to
her
aunt
.
Not
daring
to
say
the
whole
amount
which
she
so
urgently
required
at
once
,
she
had
only
brought
with
her
the
antique
gold
cross
and
two
or
three
smaller
ornaments
,
which
had
been
among
her
mother
's
trinkets
,
and
a
gold
locket
Percy
had
given
her
.
Mrs.
Langford
was
painfully
startled
.
She
had
no
idea
her
promise
comprised
acquiescence
and
assistance
in
any
matter
so
very
wrong
and
mysterious
as
this
;
and
she
tried
every
argument
,
every
persuasion
,
to
prevail
on
Ellen
to
confide
all
her
difficulties
to
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
urging
that
if
even
she
had
done
wrong
,
it
could
only
call
for
temporary
displeasure
,
whereas
the
mischief
of
her
present
proceeding
might
never
come
to
an
end
,
and
must
be
discovered
at
last
;
but
Ellen
was
inexorable
,
though
evidently
quite
as
miserable
as
she
was
firm
,
and
Mrs.
Langford
had
too
high
an
idea
of
the
solemn
nature
of
a
pledged
word
to
draw
back
,
or
think
of
betraying
her
.
She
said
that
,
of
course
,
it
might
be
some
weeks
before
she
could
succeed
in
disposing
of
them
all
;
as
to
offer
them
all
together
,
or
even
at
one
place
,
would
be
exposing
herself
to
the
most
unpleasant
suspicions
.
One
step
was
thus
gained
,
but
nearly
a
fortnight
had
passed
,
and
she
heard
nothing
from
the
widow
.
"
Will
they
never
come
?
"
exclaimed
Emmeline
,
in
mirthful
impatience
,
one
evening
,
about
four
days
after
her
conversation
with
her
mother
;
"
it
must
be
past
the
hour
Percy
named
.
"
"
It
still
wants
half
an
hour
,
"
replied
Mrs.
Hamilton
;
adding
,
"
that
unfortunate
drawing
,
when
will
it
succeed
in
obtaining
your
undivided
attention
?
"
"
Certainly
not
this
evening
,
mamma
;
the
only
drawing
I
feel
inclined
for
,
is
a
sketch
of
my
two
brothers
,
if
they
would
only
have
the
kindness
to
sit
by
me
.
"
"
Poor
Percy
,
"
observed
Caroline
,
dryly
;
"
if
you
are
to
be
as
restless
as
you
have
been
the
last
hour
,
Emmeline
,
he
would
not
be
very
much
flattered
by
his
portrait
.
"
"
Now
that
is
very
spiteful
of
you
,
Caroline
,
and
all
because
I
do
not
happen
to
be
so
quiet
and
sober
as
you
are
;
though
I
am
sure
all
this
morning
,
that
mamma
thought
by
your
unusually
long
absence
that
you
were
having
a
most
persevering
practice
,
you
were
only
collecting
all
Percy
's
and
Herbert
's
favorite
songs
and
pieces
,
and
playing
them
over
,
instead
of
your
new
music
.
"
"
And
what
if
I
did
,
Emmeline
?
"
"
Why
,
it
only
proves
that
your
thoughts
are
quite
as
much
occupied
by
them
as
mine
are
,
though
you
have
so
disagreeably
read
,
studied
,
worked
,
just
as
usual
,
to
make
one
believe
you
neither
thought
nor
cared
any
thing
about
them
.
"
"
And
so
,
because
Caroline
can
control
even
joyous
anticipation
,
she
is
to
be
thought
void
of
feeling
,
Emmy
.
I
really
can
pronounce
no
such
judgment
;
so
,
though
she
may
have
settled
to
her
usual
pursuits
,
and
you
have
literally
done
nothing
at
all
to-day
,
I
will
not
condemn
her
as
loving
her
brothers
less
.
"
"
But
you
will
condemn
me
as
an
idle
,
unsteady
,
hair-brained
girl
,
"
replied
Emmeline
,
kneeling
on
the
ottoman
at
her
mother
's
feet
,
and
looking
archly
and
fondly
in
her
face
.
"
Then
do
let
me
have
a
fellow-sufferer
,
for
I
can
not
stand
condemnation
alone
.
Ellen
,
do
put
away
that
everlasting
sketch
,
and
be
idle
and
unsteady
,
too
!
"
"
It
wo
n't
do
,
Emmy
;
Ellen
has
been
so
perseveringly
industrious
since
her
illness
,
that
I
should
rather
condemn
her
for
too
much
application
than
too
great
idleness
.
But
you
really
have
been
stooping
too
long
this
warm
evening
,
my
love
,
"
she
added
,
observing
,
as
Ellen
,
it
seemed
almost
involuntarily
,
looked
up
at
her
cousin
's
words
,
that
her
cheeks
were
flushed
almost
painfully
.
"
Oblige
Emmeline
this
once
,
and
be
as
idle
as
she
is
:
come
and
talk
to
me
,
I
have
scarcely
heard
a
word
from
you
to-day
;
you
have
been
more
silent
than
ever
,
I
think
,
since
your
uncle
left
us
;
but
I
must
have
no
gloom
to
greet
your
cousins
,
Ellen
.
"
There
was
no
rejoinder
to
these
kind
and
playful
words
.
Ellen
did
indeed
put
aside
her
drawing
,
but
instead
of
taking
a
seat
near
her
aunt
,
which
in
former
days
she
would
have
been
only
too
happy
to
do
,
she
walked
to
the
farthest
window
,
and
ensconcing
herself
in
its
deep
recess
,
seemed
determined
to
hold
communion
with
no
one
.
Miss
Harcourt
was
so
indignant
as
scarcely
to
be
able
to
contain
its
expression
.
Caroline
looked
astonished
and
provoked
.
Emmeline
was
much
too
busy
in
flying
from
window
to
window
,
to
think
of
any
thing
else
but
her
brothers
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
was
more
grieved
and
hurt
than
Ellen
had
scarcely
ever
made
her
feel
.
Several
times
before
,
in
the
last
month
,
she
had
fancied
there
was
something
unusual
in
her
manner
;
but
the
many
anxieties
and
thoughts
which
had
engrossed
her
since
her
husband
's
summons
and
his
departure
,
had
prevented
any
thing
,
till
that
evening
,
but
momentary
surprise
.
Emmeline
's
exclamation
that
she
was
quite
sure
she
heard
the
trampling
of
horses
,
and
that
it
must
be
Percy
,
by
the
headlong
way
he
rode
,
prevented
any
remark
,
and
brought
them
all
to
the
window
;
and
she
was
right
,
for
in
a
few
minutes
a
horseman
emerged
from
some
distant
trees
,
urging
his
horse
to
its
utmost
speed
,
waving
his
cap
in
all
sorts
of
mirthful
gesticulations
over
his
head
,
long
before
he
could
be
quite
sure
that
there
was
any
body
to
see
him
.
Another
minute
,
and
he
had
flung
the
reins
to
Robert
,
with
a
laughing
greeting
,
and
springing
up
the
long
flight
of
steps
in
two
bounds
,
was
in
the
sitting-room
and
in
the
arms
of
his
mother
,
before
either
of
his
family
imagined
he
could
have
had
even
time
to
dismount
.
"
Herbert
?
"
was
the
first
word
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
quivering
lip
could
speak
.
"
Is
quite
well
,
my
dearest
mother
,
and
not
five
minutes
'
ride
behind
me
.
The
villagers
would
flock
round
us
,
with
such
an
hurrah
,
I
thought
you
must
have
heard
it
here
;
so
I
left
Bertie
to
play
the
agreeable
,
and
promised
to
see
them
to-morrow
,
and
galloped
on
here
,
for
you
know
the
day
we
left
,
I
vowed
that
the
firstborn
of
my
mother
should
have
her
first
kiss
.
"
"
Still
the
same
,
Percy
—
not
sobered
yet
,
my
boy
?
"
said
his
mother
,
looking
at
him
with
a
proud
smile
;
for
while
the
tone
and
manner
were
still
the
eager
,
fresh-feeling
boy
,
the
face
and
figure
were
that
of
the
fine-growing
,
noble-looking
man
.
"
Sobered
!
why
,
mother
,
I
never
intend
to
be
,
"
he
answered
,
joyously
,
as
he
alternately
embraced
his
sisters
,
Miss
Harcourt
,
and
Ellen
,
who
,
fearing
to
attract
notice
,
had
emerged
from
her
hiding-place
;
"
if
the
venerable
towers
of
that
most
wise
and
learned
town
,
Oxford
,
and
all
the
grave
lectures
and
long
faces
of
sage
professors
have
failed
to
tame
me
,
there
can
be
no
hope
for
my
sobriety
;
but
here
comes
Herbert
,
actually
going
it
almost
as
fast
as
I
did
.
Well
done
,
my
boy
!
Mother
,
that
is
all
your
doing
;
he
feels
your
influence
at
this
distance
.
Why
,
all
the
Oxonians
would
fancy
the
colleges
must
be
tumbling
about
their
ears
,
if
they
saw
the
gentle
,
studious
,
steady
Herbert
Hamilton
riding
at
such
a
rate
.
"
He
entered
almost
as
his
brother
spoke
;
and
though
less
boisterous
,
the
intense
delight
it
was
to
him
to
look
in
his
mother
's
face
again
,
to
be
surrounded
by
all
he
loved
,
was
as
visible
as
Percy
's
;
and
deep
was
the
thankfulness
of
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
ever
anxious
heart
,
as
she
saw
him
looking
so
well
—
so
much
stronger
than
in
his
boyhood
.
The
joy
of
that
evening
,
and
of
very
many
succeeding
days
,
was
,
indeed
,
great
;
though
many
to
whom
the
sanctity
and
bliss
of
domestic
affection
are
unknown
,
might
fancy
there
was
little
to
call
for
it
;
but
to
the
inmates
of
Oakwood
it
was
real
happiness
to
hear
Percy
's
wild
laugh
and
his
inexhaustible
stories
,
calling
forth
the
same
mirth
from
his
hearers
—
the
very
sound
of
his
ever-bounding
step
,
and
his
boisterous
career
from
room
to
room
,
to
visit
,
he
declared
,
and
rouse
all
the
bogies
and
spirits
that
must
have
slept
while
he
was
away
:
Herbert
's
quieter
but
equal
interest
in
all
that
had
been
done
,
studied
,
read
,
even
thought
and
felt
,
in
his
absence
:
the
pride
and
delight
of
both
in
the
accounts
of
Edward
,
Percy
insisting
that
to
have
such
a
gallant
fellow
of
a
brother
,
ought
to
make
Ellen
as
lively
and
happy
as
Emmeline
,
who
was
blessed
nearly
in
the
same
measure
—
looking
so
excessively
mischievous
as
he
spoke
,
that
,
though
his
sister
did
not
at
first
understand
the
inference
,
it
was
speedily
discovered
,
and
called
for
a
laughing
attack
on
his
outrageous
self-conceit
.
Herbert
more
earnestly
regretted
to
see
Ellen
looking
as
sad
and
pale
as
when
she
was
quite
a
little
girl
,
and
took
upon
himself
gently
to
reproach
her
for
not
being
,
or
,
at
least
,
trying
to
make
herself
more
cheerful
,
when
she
had
so
many
blessings
around
her
,
and
was
so
superlatively
happy
in
having
such
a
brave
and
noble-hearted
brother
.
If
he
did
not
understand
her
manner
as
he
spoke
,
both
he
and
the
less
observant
Percy
were
destined
to
be
still
more
puzzled
and
grieved
as
a
few
weeks
passed
,
and
they
at
first
fancied
and
then
were
quite
sure
that
she
was
completely
altered
,
even
in
her
manner
to
their
mother
.
Instead
of
being
so
gentle
,
so
submissive
,
so
quietly
happy
to
deserve
the
smallest
sign
of
approval
from
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
she
now
seemed
completely
to
shrink
from
her
,
either
in
fear
,
or
that
she
no
longer
cared
either
to
please
or
to
obey
her
.
By
imperceptible
,
but
sure
degrees
,
this
painful
conviction
pressed
itself
on
the
minds
of
the
whole
party
,
even
to
the
light-hearted
,
unsuspicious
Emmeline
,
to
whom
it
was
so
utterly
incomprehensible
,
that
she
declared
it
must
be
all
fancy
,
and
that
they
were
all
so
happy
that
their
heads
must
be
a
little
turned
.
"
Even
mamma
's
!
"
observed
Caroline
,
dryly
.
"
No
;
but
she
is
the
only
sensible
person
among
us
,
for
she
has
not
said
any
thing
about
it
,
and
,
therefore
,
I
dare
say
does
not
even
see
that
which
we
are
making
such
a
wonder
about
.
"
"
I
do
not
agree
with
you
,
for
I
rather
think
she
has
both
seen
and
felt
it
before
either
of
us
,
and
that
because
it
so
grieves
and
perplexes
her
,
she
can
not
speculate
or
even
speak
about
it
as
we
do
.
Time
will
explain
it
,
I
suppose
,
but
it
is
very
disagreeable
.
"
It
was
,
indeed
,
no
fancy
;
but
little
could
these
young
observers
or
even
Mrs.
Hamilton
suspect
that
which
was
matter
of
speculation
or
grief
to
them
,
was
almost
madness
in
its
agony
of
torture
to
Ellen
;
who
,
as
weeks
passed
,
and
but
very
trifling
returns
for
her
trinkets
were
made
her
by
Mrs.
Langford
,
felt
as
if
her
brain
must
fail
before
she
could
indeed
accomplish
her
still
ardently
desired
plan
,
and
give
back
the
missing
sum
to
Robert
,
without
calling
suspicion
on
herself
.
She
felt
to
herself
as
changed
as
she
appeared
to
those
that
observed
her
;
a
black
impenetrable
pall
seemed
to
have
enveloped
her
heart
and
mind
,
closing
up
both
,
even
from
those
affections
,
those
pursuits
,
so
dear
to
her
before
.
She
longed
for
some
change
from
the
dense
impenetrable
fog
,
even
if
it
were
some
heavy
blow
—
tangible
suffering
of
the
fiercest
kind
was
prayed
for
,
rather
than
the
stagnation
which
caused
her
to
move
,
act
,
and
speak
as
if
under
some
fatal
spell
,
and
look
with
such
terror
on
the
relation
she
had
so
loved
,
that
even
to
be
banished
from
her
presence
she
imagined
would
be
less
agony
,
than
to
associate
with
her
,
as
the
miserable
,
guilty
being
she
had
become
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
watched
and
was
anxious
,
but
she
kept
both
her
observations
and
anxiety
to
herself
,
for
she
would
not
throw
even
a
temporary
cloud
over
the
happiness
of
her
children
.
A
fortnight
after
the
young
men
's
arrival
,
letters
came
most
unexpectedly
from
Mr.
Hamilton
,
dated
twelve
days
after
he
had
left
,
and
brought
by
a
Scottish
trader
whom
they
had
encountered
near
the
Shetland
Isles
,
and
who
had
faithfully
forwarded
them
from
Edinburgh
,
as
he
had
promised
.
The
voyage
had
been
most
delightful
,
and
they
hoped
to
reach
Feroe
in
another
week
.
He
wrote
in
the
highest
terms
of
Morton
;
the
comfort
of
such
companionship
,
and
the
intrinsic
worth
of
his
character
,
which
could
never
be
known
,
until
so
closely
thrown
together
.
"
I
may
thank
our
Percy
for
this
excellent
friend
,
"
he
wrote
.
"
He
tells
me
his
brave
and
honest
avowal
of
those
verses
,
which
had
given
him
so
much
pain
,
attracted
him
more
toward
me
and
mine
,
than
even
my
own
efforts
to
obtain
his
friendship
.
Percy
little
thought
when
he
so
conquered
himself
the
help
he
would
give
his
father
—
so
little
do
we
know
to
what
hidden
good
,
the
straightforward
,
honest
performance
of
a
duty
,
however
painful
,
may
lead
.
"
"
My
father
should
thank
you
,
mother
,
not
me
,
"
was
Percy
's
rejoinder
,
with
a
flushed
cheek
and
eye
sparkling
with
animation
,
as
his
mother
read
the
passage
to
him
.
"
No
such
thing
,
Percy
;
I
will
not
have
you
give
me
all
the
merit
of
your
good
deeds
.
I
did
but
try
to
guide
you
,
my
boy
;
neither
the
disposition
to
receive
,
nor
the
fruit
springing
from
the
seeds
I
planted
,
is
from
me
.
"
"
They
are
,
mother
,
more
than
you
are
in
the
least
aware
of
!
"
replied
he
,
with
even
more
than
his
usual
impetuosity
,
for
they
happened
to
be
quite
alone
;
"
I
thought
I
knew
all
your
worth
before
I
went
to
Oxford
,
but
I
have
mingled
with
the
world
now
;
I
have
been
a
silent
listener
and
observer
of
such
sentiments
,
such
actions
,
as
I
know
would
naturally
have
been
mine
,
and
though
in
themselves
perhaps
of
little
moment
,
saw
they
led
to
irregularity
,
laxity
of
principle
and
conduct
,
which
now
I
can
not
feel
as
other
than
actual
guilt
;
and
what
saved
me
from
the
same
?
The
principle
which
from
my
infancy
you
taught
.
I
have
questioned
,
led
on
in
conversation
,
these
young
men
to
speak
of
their
boyhood
and
their
homes
,
and
there
were
none
guided
,
loved
as
I
was
;
none
whose
parents
had
so
blended
firmness
with
indulgence
,
as
while
my
wild
,
free
spirits
were
unchecked
,
prevented
the
ascendency
of
evil
.
I
could
not
do
as
they
did
.
Mother
!
love
you
more
,
perhaps
,
I
can
not
,
but
every
time
I
join
the
world
,
fresh
from
this
home
sanctuary
,
I
must
bless
and
venerate
you
more
!
To
walk
through
this
world
with
any
degree
of
security
,
man
must
have
principle
based
on
the
highest
source
;
and
that
principle
can
only
be
instilled
by
the
constant
example
of
a
mother
and
the
association
of
a
home
!
"
Mrs.
Hamilton
could
not
answer
,
but
—
a
very
unusual
sign
of
weakness
with
her
—
tears
of
the
most
intense
happiness
poured
down
on
the
cheek
of
her
son
,
as
in
his
impetuosity
he
knelt
before
her
,
and
ended
his
very
unusually
grave
appeal
by
the
same
loving
caresses
he
was
wont
to
lavish
on
her
,
in
his
infancy
and
boyhood
.
The
letters
from
Mr.
Hamilton
,
of
course
,
greatly
increased
the
general
hilarity
,
and
the
arrival
of
Mr.
Grahame
's
family
about
the
same
time
,
added
fresh
zest
to
youthful
enjoyment
.
In
the
few
months
she
spent
at
Moorlands
,
Annie
actually
condescended
to
be
agreeable
.
Percy
,
and
some
of
Percy
's
boyish
friends
,
now
young
men
,
as
himself
,
were
quite
different
to
her
usual
society
,
and
as
she
very
well
knew
the
only
way
to
win
Percy
's
even
casual
notice
was
to
throw
off
her
affectation
and
superciliousness
as
much
as
possible
,
she
would
do
so
,
and
be
pleasing
to
an
extent
that
surprised
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
who
,
always
inclined
to
judge
kindly
,
hoped
more
regarding
Annie
than
she
had
done
yet
.
Little
could
her
pure
mind
conceive
that
,
in
addition
to
the
pleasure
of
flirting
with
Percy
,
Annie
acted
in
this
manner
actually
to
throw
her
off
her
guard
,
and
so
give
her
a
wider
field
for
her
machinations
when
Caroline
should
enter
the
London
world
;
a
time
to
which
,
from
her
thirteenth
year
,
she
had
secretly
looked
as
the
opportunity
to
make
Caroline
so
conduct
herself
,
as
to
cover
her
mother
with
shame
and
misery
,
and
bring
her
fine
plans
of
education
to
failure
and
contempt
.
Mrs.
Greville
and
Mary
were
also
constantly
at
the
Hall
,
or
having
their
friends
with
them
;
Herbert
and
Mary
advancing
in
words
or
feelings
not
much
farther
than
they
had
ever
done
as
boy
and
girl
,
but
still
feeling
and
acknowledging
to
their
mutual
mothers
that
,
next
to
them
,
they
loved
each
other
better
than
all
the
world
,
and
enjoyed
each
other
's
society
more
than
any
other
pleasure
which
life
could
offer
.
Excursions
by
land
or
water
,
sometimes
on
horseback
,
sometimes
in
the
carriages
,
constant
little
family
reunions
,
either
at
Oakwood
,
Moorlands
,
or
Greville
Manor
,
passed
days
and
evenings
most
delightfully
,
to
all
but
Ellen
,
who
did
not
dare
stay
at
home
as
often
as
inclination
prompted
,
and
whose
forced
gayety
,
when
in
society
,
did
but
increase
the
inward
torture
when
alone
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
had
as
yet
refrained
from
speaking
to
her
—
still
trying
to
believe
she
must
be
mistaken
,
and
there
really
was
nothing
strange
about
her
.
One
morning
,
however
,
about
a
month
after
the
young
men
had
been
at
home
,
her
attention
was
unavoidably
arrested
by
hearing
Percy
gayly
ask
his
cousin
—
"
Nelly
,
Tiny
wrote
me
such
a
description
of
your
birthday
watch
,
that
I
quite
forgot
,
I
have
been
dying
to
see
it
all
the
time
I
have
been
at
home
;
show
it
me
now
,
there
's
a
dear
;
it
can
not
be
much
use
to
you
,
that
's
certain
,
for
I
have
never
seen
you
take
it
from
its
hiding-place
.
"
Ellen
answered
,
almost
inarticulately
,
it
was
not
in
her
power
to
show
it
him
.
"
Not
in
your
power
!
You
must
be
dreaming
,
Nell
,
as
I
think
you
are
very
often
now
.
Why
,
what
do
you
wear
that
chain
,
and
seal
and
key
for
,
if
you
have
not
your
watch
on
too
?
"
"
Where
is
your
watch
,
Ellen
?
and
why
,
if
you
are
not
wearing
it
,
do
you
make
us
suppose
you
are
?
"
interrupted
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
startled
out
of
all
idea
that
Ellen
was
changed
only
in
fancy
.
Ellen
was
silent
,
and
to
Percy
's
imagination
,
so
sullenly
and
insolently
so
,
that
he
became
indignant
.
"
Did
you
hear
my
mother
speak
to
you
,
Ellen
?
Why
do
n't
you
answer
?
"
"
Because
I
thought
my
watch
was
my
own
to
do
what
I
liked
with
,
to
wear
or
to
put
away
,
"
was
the
reply
;
over
neither
words
nor
tone
of
which
,
had
she
at
that
moment
any
control
,
for
in
her
agonized
terror
,
she
did
not
in
the
least
know
what
she
said
.
"
How
dare
you
answer
so
,
Ellen
?
Leave
the
room
,
or
ask
my
mother
's
pardon
at
once
,
"
replied
Percy
,
his
eyes
flashing
with
such
unusual
anger
that
it
terrified
her
still
more
,
and
under
the
same
kind
of
spell
she
was
turning
to
obey
him
,
without
attempting
the
apology
he
demanded
.
"
Stay
,
Ellen
;
this
extraordinary
conduct
must
not
go
on
any
longer
without
notice
on
my
part
.
I
have
borne
with
it
,
I
fear
,
too
long
already
.
Leave
us
,
my
dear
Percy
;
I
would
rather
speak
with
your
cousin
alone
.
"
"
I
fear
it
will
be
useless
,
mother
;
what
has
come
over
Ellen
I
can
not
imagine
,
but
I
never
saw
such
an
incomprehensible
change
in
my
life
.
"
He
departed
,
unconscious
that
Ellen
,
who
was
near
the
door
transfixed
at
her
aunt
's
words
,
made
a
rapid
movement
as
to
catch
hold
of
his
arm
,
and
that
the
words
,
"
Do
not
go
,
Percy
,
for
pity
's
sake
!
"
trembled
on
her
pale
lips
,
but
they
emitted
no
sound
.
What
passed
in
the
interview
,
which
lasted
more
than
an
hour
,
no
one
knew
;
but
to
the
watchful
eyes
of
her
affectionate
children
,
there
were
traces
of
very
unusual
disturbance
on
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
expressive
countenance
when
she
rejoined
them
;
and
the
dark
rim
round
Ellen
's
eyes
,
the
deadly
pallor
of
her
cheeks
and
lips
seemed
to
denote
that
it
had
not
been
deficient
in
suffering
to
her
;
though
not
one
sign
of
penitence
,
one
word
of
acknowledgment
that
she
was
,
and
had
been
for
some
weeks
in
error
,
by
her
extraordinary
conduct
—
not
even
a
softening
tear
could
her
aunt
elicit
.
She
had
never
before
so
failed
—
never
,
not
even
when
the
disappearance
of
her
allowance
had
caused
extreme
displeasure
,
had
Ellen
evinced
such
an
apparently
sullen
spirit
of
determined
hardihood
.
She
would
not
attempt
defense
or
reply
to
the
acted
falsehood
with
which
she
was
charged
,
of
appearing
to
wear
her
watch
when
she
did
not
,
or
to
say
what
she
had
done
with
it
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
spoke
to
her
till
she
was
almost
exhausted
,
for
her
own
disappointment
was
most
painful
,
and
she
had
not
a
gleam
of
hope
to
urge
her
on
.
Her
concluding
words
were
these
—
"
That
you
are
under
the
evil
influence
of
some
unconfessed
and
most
heinous
fault
,
Ellen
,
I
am
perfectly
convinced
;
what
it
is
time
will
reveal
.
I
give
you
one
month
to
decide
on
your
course
of
action
;
subdue
this
sullen
spirit
,
confess
whatever
error
you
may
have
been
led
into
,
and
so
change
your
conduct
as
to
be
again
the
child
I
so
loved
,
spite
of
occasional
faults
and
errors
,
and
I
will
pardon
all
that
is
past
.
If
,
at
the
end
of
a
month
,
I
find
you
persisting
in
the
same
course
of
rebellion
and
defiance
,
regardless
alike
of
your
duty
to
your
God
and
to
me
,
I
shall
adopt
some
measures
to
compel
submission
.
I
had
hoped
to
bring
up
all
my
children
under
my
own
eye
,
and
by
my
own
efforts
;
but
if
I
am
not
permitted
so
to
do
,
I
know
my
duty
too
well
to
shrink
from
the
alternative
.
You
will
no
longer
remain
under
my
care
;
some
severer
guardian
and
more
rigid
discipline
may
bring
you
to
a
sense
of
your
duty
.
I
advise
you
to
think
well
on
this
subject
,
Ellen
;
you
know
me
too
well
,
I
think
,
to
imagine
that
I
speak
in
mere
jest
.
"
She
had
left
the
room
as
she
spoke
,
so
,
that
if
Ellen
had
intended
reply
,
there
was
no
time
for
it
.
But
she
could
not
have
spoken
.
Go
from
Oakwood
,
and
in
anger
!
Yet
it
was
but
just
;
it
was
better
,
perhaps
,
than
the
lingering
torture
she
was
then
enduring
—
better
to
hide
her
shame
and
misery
among
strangers
,
than
remain
among
the
good
,
the
happy
—
the
guilty
wretch
she
was
.
She
sat
and
thought
till
feeling
itself
became
utterly
exhausted
,
and
again
the
spell
,
the
stupor
of
indifference
,
crept
over
her
.
She
would
have
confessed
,
but
she
knew
that
it
could
never
satisfy
,
as
the
half
confession
she
would
have
been
compelled
to
make
it
;
and
the
dread
of
herself
,
that
she
should
betray
her
brother
,
sealed
her
lips
.
Robert
's
story
,
and
the
strange
disappearance
of
the
notes
,
had
of
course
been
imparted
to
Percy
and
Herbert
.
In
fact
,
the
change
in
the
young
man
,
from
being
as
light-hearted
as
his
young
master
himself
,
to
gravity
and
almost
gloom
—
for
the
conviction
of
his
master
and
mistress
,
as
to
his
innocence
could
not
cheer
him
,
while
suspicion
against
him
still
actuated
Morris
,
and
many
of
the
other
servants
—
would
have
called
the
young
men
's
attention
toward
him
at
once
.
The
various
paths
and
glades
between
the
Hall
and
Mrs.
Langford
's
cottage
had
been
so
searched
,
that
unless
the
storm
had
destroyed
them
or
blown
the
notes
very
far
away
,
it
seemed
next
to
impossible
,
that
they
could
not
be
found
.
Mr.
Hamilton
knew
the
number
of
each
note
,
had
told
them
to
his
wife
,
and
gave
notice
at
his
banker
's
that
though
he
did
not
wish
them
stopped
,
he
should
like
to
know
,
if
possible
,
when
they
had
passed
.
No
notice
of
such
a
thing
had
been
sent
to
Oakwood
,
and
it
seemed
curious
that
,
if
found
and
appropriated
,
they
should
not
yet
have
been
used
,
for
ten
weeks
had
now
slipped
away
since
their
loss
,
and
nearly
nine
since
the
letters
had
been
sent
to
Edward
and
his
captain
,
answers
to
which
had
not
yet
been
received
;
but
that
was
nothing
remarkable
,
for
Edward
seldom
wrote
above
once
in
three
or
four
months
.
It
was
nearing
the
end
of
August
,
when
one
afternoon
Mrs.
Hamilton
was
prevented
joining
her
children
in
a
sail
up
the
Dart
,
though
it
had
been
a
long
promise
,
and
Percy
was
,
in
consequence
,
excessively
indignant
;
but
certain
matters
relative
to
the
steward
's
province
demanded
a
reference
to
his
mistress
,
and
Morris
was
compelled
to
request
a
longer
interview
than
usual
.
Ellen
had
chosen
to
join
the
aquatic
party
,
a
decision
now
so
contrary
to
her
usual
habits
,
that
Mrs.
Hamilton
could
not
help
fancying
it
was
to
prevent
the
chance
of
being
any
time
alone
with
her
.
There
had
been
no
change
in
her
manner
,
except
a
degree
more
care
to
control
the
disrespectful
or
pettish
answer
;
but
nothing
to
give
hope
that
the
spirit
was
changing
,
and
that
the
hidden
error
,
whatever
it
might
be
,
would
be
acknowledged
and
atoned
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
was
nerving
her
own
mind
for
the
performance
of
the
alternative
she
had
placed
before
her
niece
;
passing
many
a
sleepless
night
in
painful
meditations
.
If
to
send
her
from
Oakwood
were
necessary
,
would
it
produce
the
effect
she
wished
?
with
whom
could
she
place
her
?
and
what
satisfactory
reason
could
she
assign
for
doing
so
?
She
knew
there
would
be
a
hundred
tongues
to
cry
shame
on
her
for
sending
her
orphan
niece
from
her
roof
,
but
that
was
but
one
scarcely-tasted
bitter
drop
in
the
many
other
sources
of
anxiety
.
But
still
these
were
but
her
nightly
sorrows
;
she
might
have
been
paler
when
she
rose
,
but
though
her
children
felt
quite
sure
that
Ellen
was
grieving
her
exceedingly
,
her
cheerful
sympathy
in
their
enjoyments
and
pursuits
never
waned
for
a
moment
.
Morris
left
her
at
six
o'clock
,
all
his
business
so
satisfactorily
accomplished
,
that
the
old
man
was
quite
happy
,
declaring
to
Ellis
,
he
had
always
thought
his
mistress
unlike
any
one
else
before
;
but
such
a
clear
head
for
reducing
difficult
accounts
and
tangled
affairs
to
order
,
he
had
never
imagined
could
either
be
possessed
by
,
or
was
any
business
of
a
woman
.
Not
in
the
least
aware
of
the
wondering
admiration
she
had
excited
,
Mrs.
Hamilton
had
called
Robert
and
proceeded
to
the
school-room
to
get
a
pattern
of
embroidery
and
a
note
,
which
Caroline
had
requested
might
be
sent
to
Annie
Grahame
that
evening
;
the
note
was
on
the
table
,
but
the
pattern
and
some
silks
she
had
neglected
to
put
up
till
her
brothers
were
ready
,
and
they
so
hurried
her
,
that
her
mother
had
promised
she
would
see
to
it
for
her
.
The
embroidery
box
was
in
a
paneled
closet
of
the
school-room
,
rather
high
up
,
and
in
taking
especial
care
to
bring
it
safely
down
,
Robert
loosened
a
desk
from
its
equilibrium
,
and
it
fell
to
the
ground
with
such
force
as
to
break
into
several
pieces
,
and
scatter
all
its
contents
over
the
floor
.
It
was
Ellen
's
!
the
pretty
rosewood
desk
which
had
been
her
gift
,
that
memorable
New
Year
's
Eve
,
and
was
now
the
repository
of
her
dread
secret
.
It
was
actually
in
fragments
,
especially
where
the
ink-stands
and
pens
had
been
,
and
the
spring
broken
,
the
secret
drawer
burst
open
,
and
all
its
contents
were
disclosed
.
Robert
was
much
too
concerned
to
think
of
any
thing
but
his
own
extreme
carelessness
,
and
his
mistress
's
reprimand
;
and
he
busied
himself
in
hastily
picking
up
the
contents
,
and
placing
them
carefully
on
the
table
,
preparatory
to
their
arrangement
by
Mrs.
Hamilton
in
a
drawer
of
the
table
which
she
was
emptying
for
the
purpose
.
She
laid
them
carefully
in
,
and
was
looking
over
a
book
of
very
nicely
written
French
themes
,
glad
there
was
at
least
one
thing
for
which
she
might
be
satisfied
with
Ellen
,
when
an
exclamation
—
"
Why
,
there
is
one
of
them
!
I
am
so
glad
,
"
and
as
sudden
,
a
stop
and
half-checked
groan
from
Robert
startled
her
.
She
looked
inquiringly
at
him
,
but
he
only
covered
his
face
with
one
hand
,
while
the
other
remained
quite
unconsciously
covering
the
secret
drawer
out
of
which
the
contents
had
not
fallen
,
but
were
merely
disclosed
.
"
What
is
the
matter
,
Robert
?
what
have
you
found
to
cause
such
contradictory
exclamations
?
Speak
,
for
God
's
sake
!
"
escaped
from
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
lips
,
for
by
that
lightning
touch
of
association
,
memory
,
thought
,
whatever
it
may
be
,
which
joins
events
together
,
and
unites
present
with
past
,
so
that
almost
a
life
seems
crowded
in
a
moment
,
such
a
suspicion
flashed
upon
her
as
to
make
her
feel
sick
and
giddy
,
and
turn
so
unusually
pale
,
as
effectually
to
rouse
Robert
,
and
make
him
spring
up
to
get
her
a
chair
.
"
Nothing
,
madam
,
indeed
it
can
be
nothing
—
I
must
be
mistaken
—
I
am
acting
like
a
fool
this
afternoon
,
doing
the
most
unheard-of
mischief
,
and
then
frightening
you
and
myself
at
shadows
.
"
"
This
evasion
will
not
do
,
Robert
;
give
me
the
papers
at
which
you
were
so
startled
.
"
He
hesitated
,
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
extended
her
hand
to
take
them
herself
;
but
her
hand
and
arm
so
shook
,
that
to
hide
it
from
her
domestic
,
she
let
it
quietly
drop
by
her
side
,
and
repeated
her
command
in
a
tone
that
brooked
no
farther
delay
.
He
placed
the
little
drawer
and
its
contents
in
her
hand
,
and
,
without
a
word
,
withdrew
into
the
farthest
window
.
For
full
five
,
it
might
have
been
ten
minutes
,
there
was
silence
so
deep
,
a
pin-fall
might
have
been
loudly
heard
.
It
was
broken
by
Mrs.
Hamilton
.
"
Robert
!
"
There
was
neither
change
nor
tremor
in
the
voice
,
but
the
fearful
expression
of
forcibly-controlled
suffering
on
her
deathlike
countenance
so
awed
and
terrified
him
,
he
besought
her
,
almost
inarticulately
,
to
let
him
fetch
a
glass
of
water
—
wine
—
something
—
"
It
is
not
at
all
necessary
,
my
good
boy
;
I
am
perfectly
well
.
This
is
,
I
believe
,
the
only
note
that
can
be
identified
as
one
of
those
you
lost
;
these
smaller
ones
(
she
pointed
to
three
,
of
one
,
two
,
and
four
pounds
each
,
which
Ellen
had
received
at
long
intervals
from
Mrs.
Langford
)
have
nothing
to
do
with
it
?
"
"
No
,
madam
,
and
that
—
that
may
not
—
"
"
We
can
not
doubt
it
,
Robert
,
I
have
its
number
;
I
need
not
detain
you
,
however
,
any
longer
.
Take
care
of
these
broken
fragments
,
and
if
they
can
be
repaired
,
see
that
it
is
done
.
Here
is
Miss
Hamilton
's
note
and
parcel
.
I
believe
you
are
to
wait
for
an
answer
,
at
all
events
inquire
.
I
need
not
ask
you
to
be
silent
on
this
discovery
,
till
I
have
spoken
to
Miss
Fortescue
,
or
to
trust
my
promise
to
make
your
innocence
fully
known
.
"
"
Not
by
the
exposure
of
Miss
Ellen
!
Oh
,
madam
,
this
is
but
one
of
them
,
the
smallest
one
—
it
may
have
come
to
her
by
the
merest
chance
—
see
how
stained
it
is
with
damp
—
for
the
sake
of
mercy
,
oh
,
madam
,
spare
her
and
yourself
too
!
"
and
in
the
earnestness
of
his
supplication
Robert
caught
hold
of
her
dress
,
hardly
knowing
himself
how
he
had
found
courage
so
to
speak
.
His
mistress
's
lips
quivered
.
"
It
is
a
kind
thought
,
Robert
,
and
if
justice
to
you
and
mercy
to
the
guilty
can
,
by
any
extenuating
clause
unknown
to
me
now
,
be
united
,
trust
me
,
they
shall
.
Now
go
.
"
He
obeyed
in
silence
,
and
still
Mrs.
Hamilton
changed
not
that
outward
seeming
of
rigid
calm
.
She
continued
to
put
every
paper
and
letter
away
(
merely
retaining
the
notes
)
,
locked
the
drawer
,
took
possession
of
the
key
,
and
then
retired
to
her
own
room
,
where
for
half
an
hour
she
remained
alone
.
It
is
not
ours
to
lift
the
vail
from
that
brief
interval
.
We
must
have
performed
our
task
badly
indeed
,
if
our
readers
can
not
so
enter
into
the
lofty
character
,
the
inward
strivings
and
outward
conduct
of
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
as
not
to
imagine
more
satisfactorily
to
themselves
than
we
could
write
it
,
the
heart-crushing
agony
of
that
one
half
hour
;
and
anguish
as
it
was
,
it
did
but
herald
deeper
.
There
was
not
even
partial
escape
for
her
,
as
there
would
have
been
had
her
husband
been
at
home
.
Examination
of
the
culprit
,
whose
mysterious
conduct
was
so
fatally
explained
,
that
she
did
not
even
dare
hope
this
was
the
only
missing
note
she
had
appropriated
—
compelled
confession
of
the
use
to
which
it
had
been
applied
—
public
acknowledgment
of
Robert
's
perfect
truth
and
innocence
,
all
crowded
on
her
mind
like
fearful
specters
of
pain
and
misery
,
from
which
there
could
be
no
escape
;
and
from
whom
did
they
spring
?
Ellen
!
the
child
of
her
adoption
,
of
her
love
,
whose
character
she
had
so
tried
to
mold
to
good
—
whose
young
life
she
had
so
sought
to
make
happier
than
its
earliest
years
—
for
whom
she
had
so
hoped
,
so
prayed
—
so
trusted
—
had
borne
with
anxiety
and
care
;
tended
in
physical
suffering
with
such
untiring
gentleness
,
such
exhaustless
love
:
and
now
!
CHAPTER
V.
THE
CULPRIT
AND
THE
JUDGE
.
It
was
nearly
seven
when
the
young
party
returned
,
delighted
as
usual
with
their
afternoon
's
amusement
;
and
Percy
,
shouting
loudly
for
his
mother
,
giving
vent
to
an
exclamation
of
impatience
at
finding
she
was
still
invisible
.
"
I
shall
wish
Morris
and
all
his
concerns
at
the
bottom
of
the
Dart
,
if
he
is
so
to
engross
my
mother
when
I
want
her
,
"
he
said
,
as
he
flung
himself
full
length
on
a
couch
in
the
music-room
,
desiring
Emmeline
to
make
haste
and
disrobe
,
as
he
must
have
an
air
on
the
harp
to
soothe
his
troubled
spirit
.
Herbert
,
to
look
for
a
poem
,
the
beauty
of
which
he
had
been
discussing
with
Miss
Harcourt
during
their
sail
,
entered
the
library
,
but
perceiving
his
mother
,
would
have
retreated
,
thinking
her
still
engaged
;
but
she
looked
up
as
the
door
opened
,
and
perceiving
him
,
smiled
,
and
asked
him
if
they
had
had
a
pleasant
afternoon
.
He
looked
at
her
earnestly
,
without
making
any
reply
;
then
approaching
her
,
took
one
of
her
hands
in
his
,
and
said
,
fondly
—
"
Forgive
me
,
dearest
mother
;
I
ought
not
,
perhaps
,
to
ask
,
but
I
am
sure
something
is
wrong
.
You
are
ill
—
anxious
—
may
I
not
share
it
?
Can
I
do
nothing
?
"
"
Nothing
,
my
Herbert
;
bless
you
for
your
watchful
love
—
it
is
such
comfort
.
"
And
the
long
pressure
of
the
hand
which
so
warmly
clasped
hers
,
the
involuntary
tenderness
with
which
these
few
words
were
said
,
betrayed
how
much
she
needed
such
comfort
at
that
moment
,
but
she
rallied
instantly
.
"
Do
not
look
so
anxious
,
dear
boy
,
I
am
not
ill
—
not
quite
happy
,
perhaps
,
but
we
know
where
to
look
for
strength
to
bear
trial
,
Herbert
.
Wait
tea
for
me
till
eight
o'clock
;
it
is
probable
I
may
be
engaged
till
then
;
"
and
,
satisfied
that
she
did
not
wish
to
be
more
explicit
,
Herbert
took
his
book
,
and
somewhat
sorrowfully
left
her
.
Ten
minutes
more
,
and
the
massive
door
unclosed
again
,
but
no
step
advanced
,
for
the
intruder
remained
rooted
where
the
door
had
closed
.
It
was
a
very
large
and
lofty
room
,
with
an
arched
and
Gothic
roof
,
of
black
and
fretted
oak
,
the
walls
and
chimney-piece
of
the
same
material
and
most
elaborate
workmanship
.
A
sort
of
dais
,
remnant
of
olden
times
,
divided
the
upper
part
of
the
room
,
by
two
or
three
steps
,
from
the
lower
.
On
this
dais
was
the
raised
reading-desk
of
superbly
carved
oak
,
at
which
Mr.
Hamilton
officiated
morning
and
evening
,
and
two
library
tables
of
more
modern
workmanship
stood
on
each
side
,
but
rather
lower
down
.
Except
the
massive
oaken
chairs
and
couches
,
and
three
or
four
curious
tables
scattered
about
,
and
the
well-filled
book-cases
,
forming
,
to
the
height
of
five
feet
,
the
border
,
as
it
were
,
of
the
fretted
wood-work
of
the
walls
,
and
filling
up
the
niches
formed
by
the
windows
;
the
lower
part
of
the
hall
,
two-thirds
of
the
length
,
was
comparatively
unoccupied
,
showing
its
vast
space
and
superb
roof
to
still
greater
advantage
.
The
magnificently
stained
windows
,
one
on
the
dais
—
a
deep
oriel
—
threw
such
subdued
light
into
the
room
,
as
accorded
well
with
its
other
appointments
;
but
as
evening
advanced
,
gave
it
that
sort
of
soft
,
holy
light
,
which
always
impresses
the
spirit
with
a
species
of
awe
.
We
do
not
think
it
was
that
feeling
alone
which
so
overpowered
the
second
intruder
,
as
to
arrest
her
spell-bound
on
the
threshold
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
was
seated
at
one
of
the
tables
on
the
dais
nearest
the
oriel
window
,
the
light
from
which
fell
full
on
her
,
giving
her
figure
,
though
she
was
seated
naturally
enough
in
one
of
the
large
,
maroon
velvet
,
oaken
chairs
,
an
unusual
effect
of
dignity
and
command
,
and
impressing
the
terrified
beholder
with
such
a
sensation
of
awe
,
that
had
her
life
depended
on
it
,
she
could
not
for
that
one
minute
have
gone
forward
;
and
even
when
desired
to
do
so
by
the
words
—
"
I
desired
your
presence
,
Ellen
,
because
I
wished
to
speak
to
you
;
come
here
without
any
more
delay
,
"
—
how
she
walked
the
whole
length
of
that
interminable
room
,
and
stood
facing
her
aunt
,
she
never
knew
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
for
a
full
minute
did
not
speak
,
but
she
fixed
that
searching
look
,
to
which
we
have
once
before
alluded
,
upon
Ellen
's
face
;
and
then
said
,
in
a
tone
which
,
though
very
low
and
calm
,
expressed
as
much
as
that
earnest
look
—
"
Ellen
!
is
it
necessary
for
me
to
tell
you
why
you
are
here
—
necessary
to
produce
the
proof
that
my
words
are
right
,
and
that
you
have
been
influenced
by
the
fearful
effects
of
some
unconfessed
and
most
heinous
sin
?
Little
did
I
dream
its
nature
.
"
For
a
moment
Ellen
stood
as
turned
to
stone
,
as
white
and
rigid
—
the
next
she
had
sunk
down
,
with
a
wild
,
bitter
cry
at
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
feet
,
and
buried
her
face
in
her
hands
.
"
Is
it
true
—
can
it
be
true
—
that
you
,
offspring
of
my
own
sister
,
dear
to
me
,
cherished
by
me
as
my
own
child
—
you
have
been
the
guilty
one
to
appropriate
,
and
conceal
the
appropriation
of
money
,
which
has
been
a
source
of
distress
by
its
loss
,
and
the
suspicion
thence
proceeding
,
for
the
last
seven
weeks
?
—
that
you
could
listen
to
your
uncle
's
words
,
absolving
his
whole
household
as
incapable
of
a
deed
which
was
actual
theft
,
and
yet
,
by
neither
word
nor
sign
,
betray
remorse
or
guilt
?
—
could
behold
the
innocent
suffering
,
the
fearful
misery
of
suspicion
,
loss
of
character
,
without
the
power
of
clearing
himself
,
and
stand
calmly
,
heedlessly
by
—
only
proving
by
your
hardened
and
rebellious
temper
that
all
was
not
right
within
—
Ellen
,
can
this
be
true
?
"
"
Yes
!
"
was
the
reply
,
but
with
such
a
fearful
effort
,
that
her
slight
frame
shook
as
with
an
ague
;
"
thank
God
,
that
it
is
known
!
I
dared
not
bring
down
the
punishment
on
myself
;
but
I
can
bear
it
.
"
"
This
is
mere
mockery
,
Ellen
;
how
dare
I
believe
even
this
poor
evidence
of
repentance
,
with
the
recollection
of
your
past
conduct
?
What
were
the
notes
you
found
?
"
Ellen
named
them
.
"
Where
are
they
?
—
This
is
but
one
,
and
the
smallest
.
"
Ellen
's
answer
was
scarcely
audible
.
"
Used
them
—
and
for
what
?
"
There
was
no
answer
,
neither
then
,
nor
when
Mrs.
Hamilton
sternly
reiterated
the
question
.
She
then
demanded
—
"
How
long
have
they
been
in
your
possession
?
"
"
Five
or
six
weeks
;
"
but
the
reply
was
so
tremulous
,
it
carried
no
conviction
with
it
.
"
Since
Robert
told
his
story
to
your
uncle
,
or
before
?
"
"
Before
.
"
"
Then
your
last
answer
was
a
falsehood
,
