Why
Paul
Ferroll
Killed
his
Wife
.
by
The
Author
of
“
Paul
Ferroll
.
”
“
A
man
does
not
murder
his
wife
gratuitously
.
”
—
Froude’s
Henry
VIII
.
Third
Edition
.
London
:
Saunders
,
Otley
,
and
Co.
,
Conduit
Street
1860.
WHY
PAUL
FERROLL
KILLED
HIS
WIFE
.
CHAPTER
I
.
A
LONG
gallery
opening
on
each
side
to
small
rooms
gave
the
inhabitants
of
St.
Cécile’s
Monastery
access
both
to
them
and
to
the
larger
apartment
which
was
inhabited
by
the
Reverend
Mother
herself
.
This
latter
room
was
of
an
oblong
shape
,
very
bare
of
furniture
,
and
of
all
kinds
of
decoration
.
The
windows
were
without
curtains
;
there
was
but
one
table
,
and
on
it
stood
a
crucifix
.
Two
benches
by
the
wall
were
all
the
accommodation
for
sitting
down
.
The
one
figure
which
occupied
the
chamber
required
not
even
so
much
,
for
she
was
kneeling
in
the
middle
of
the
floor
,
with
support
of
no
kind
,
and
quite
upright
,
except
her
head
,
which
was
bowed
under
the
thick
cloth
or
veil
hanging
over
it
,
and
which
concealed
even
her
hands
.
“
She
is
praying
,
”
said
a
nun
,
looking
into
the
room
,
“
you
had
better
wait
;
”
and
these
words
she
addressed
to
a
young
girl
who
accompanied
her
,
in
the
ordinary
tone
of
conversation
,
such
as
befitted
the
occupations
of
the
place
.
The
young
girl
advanced
into
the
room
,
and
herself
went
down
on
her
knees
at
a
little
distance
from
the
Superior
,
running
over
her
beads
while
she
waited
till
she
might
speak
.
She
was
very
simply
dressed
in
white
,
with
parted
hair
,
like
a
child
,
but
abundant
and
beautiful
,
falling
low
on
low
shoulders
and
delicately
rounded
waist
.
Her
face
was
fair
,
with
very
little
colour
,
and
the
eyes
,
which
she
raised
often
,
while
she
slid
her
beads
through
her
fingers
,
had
a
simplicity
of
religious
expression
,
such
as
fades
even
in
those
happy
enough
once
to
possess
it
,
when
the
habits
of
a
pious
child‐
hood
come
to
be
contradicted
by
those
of
the
general
world
.
When
the
Superior
rose
from
her
knees
,
so
did
Elinor
,
and
advanced
towards
the
elder
lady
,
who
kissed
her
on
the
forehead
,
and
gave
a
blessing
.
The
conversation
was
in
French
,
though
the
girl
was
English
,
for
it
was
in
a
Convent
of
Brittany
that
the
scene
took
place
.
It
did
not
begin
in
the
tone
supposed
to
be
exclusively
that
of
Lady
Abbesses
.
“
Has
Louisa
finished
the
marking
of
all
your
shifts
,
my
dear
?
Are
they
ready
?
”
“
Yes
,
dear
Mother
,
and
packed
up
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
And
have
you
heard
whether
Madame
Néotte
is
come
.
”
“
Yes
,
that
is
what
I
came
here
to
tell
you
,
as
you
desired
.
”
“
Then
to‐morrow
you
leave
us
,
”
said
the
Superior
,
in
a
melancholy
voice
.
“
It
is
you
who
have
determined
it
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
Ah
,
my
child
!
your
guardian
believes
it
best
;
it
is
his
doing
.
”
“
And
I
shall
come
back
,
”
said
the
girl
.
“
No
,
dear
,
you
will
never
do
that
.
I
know
your
feelings
better
than
you
do
.
It
will
be
a
hard
parting
with
us
all
,
but
when
you
are
away
you
will
be
glad
.
You
will
enjoy
the
world
,
you
will
choose
it
,
and
you
will
be
welcome
in
it
.
No
;
you
will
never
wish
to
come
back
here
.
I
have
known
many
gentle
girls
like
you
,
who
could
not
find
what
they
wanted
here
.
They
require
to
be
carried
along
—
not
to
walk
alone
,
as
in
a
convent
.
”
“
Am
I
one
of
those
,
”
said
Elinor
,
catching
hold
of
the
Abbess’s
hand
and
passionately
kissing
it
;
“
I
who
have
been
so
happy
?
”
“
And
have
made
us
all
happy
—
but
you
must
go
.
Sit
down
a
little
while
,
let
us
talk
for
the
last
time
.
The
world
is
full
of
snares
,
my
dear
.
”
“
What
are
they
?
”
said
Elinor
.
“
What
will
they
tempt
me
to
do
?
”
“
Vanity
,
the
pride
of
life
,
the
lusts
of
the
devil
,
”
answered
the
Superior
.
“
You
must
be
prepared
for
all
.
Some
will
pretend
that
you
have
beauty
;
some
will
praise
your
voice
,
as
if
you
were
a
musician
;
some
will
talk
to
you
of
the
world
—
and
all
,
all
for
their
own
bad
ends
.
”
“
What
are
those
ends
?
”
asked
Elinor
,
again
.
The
Abbess
,
was
a
little
puzzled
.
“
Man
,
”
said
she
,
solemnly
,
“
is
a
creature
going
about
to
devour
.
Listen
not
to
him
,
go
not
near
him
,
keep
him
far
from
you
.
He
will
hurt
you
,
he
will
destroy
you
;
you
have
already
learned
this
;
now
is
your
time
to
practise
.
Keep
your
eyes
from
his
face
,
keep
your
speech
from
his
commerce
.
One
day
it
may
come
to
pass
that
your
guardian
may
select
one
who
is
to
be
your
husband
.
Then
submit
yourself
to
the
will
of
your
superiors
,
and
adopt
the
state
of
life
which
shall
be
allotted
you
;
but
till
such
a
fate
is
brought
to
your
door
,
remember
that
a
maiden
must
keep
her
finger
on
her
lips
and
her
heart
full
of
thoughts
holy
and
virtuous
,
avoiding
the
very
shadow
of
sin
.
”
Elinor
was
set
thinking
what
these
sins
could
be
;
but
she
resolved
,
at
all
events
,
to
do
right
,
and
to
keep
the
precepts
of
her
early
friend
in
her
memory
.
She
continued
talking
with
the
Reverend
Mother
as
long
as
convent
duties
permitted
;
then
,
for
the
last
time
,
partook
the
Evening
Service
and
assisted
to
make
the
vesper
beautiful
by
her
exquisite
voice
,
against
the
world’s
estimation
of
which
the
Superior
thought
she
had
successfully
warned
her
.
She
rose
that
night
for
Vigils
;
and
next
morning
was
up
at
Matins
—
the
last
time
of
doing
these
duties
making
them
seem
to
her
as
if
she
would
fain
never
cease
to
do
them
;
and
when
the
hour
for
her
journey
arrived
,
the
wrench
of
the
first
roots
she
had
ever
struck
in
hearts
and
places
,
overwhelmed
her
with
a
girlish
sorrow
,
which
,
fortunately
,
was
not
put
to
such
proof
as
an
offer
to
remove
it
would
have
been
;
for
there
is
no
saying
how
her
wish
to
remain
in
the
Convent
would
have
been
modified
,
if
the
chaise
into
which
she
so
sobbingly
stepped
had
been
ordered
back
into
its
old
remise
.
CHAPTER
II
.
ON
the
English
side
of
the
Channel
,
which
our
heroine
was
about
to
cross
,
a
different
scene
was
passing
in
the
early
life
of
one
of
the
opposite
sex
.
A
young
man
,
four
years
older
than
Elinor
(
who
was
just
seventeen
)
,
had
passed
that
summer
a
triumphant
Examination
at
Oxford
,
and
heaped
on
himself
every
honour
which
it
was
possible
for
its
young
members
to
obtain
.
He
had
been
accustomed
to
success
ever
since
he
became
a
school‐boy
;
and
he
was
so
far
from
satiated
by
it
,
that
he
already
looked
upon
all
his
achievements
as
mere
marks
of
past
progress
,
and
on
himself
as
now
about
to
begin
the
career
which
contained
objects
really
worthy
of
his
ambition
.
He
was
an
orphan
,
never
acquainted
with
father
or
mother
;
wholly
unconscious
of
tender
influences
on
his
boyhood
,
and
of
domestic
sympathy
with
his
successes
and
desires
.
He
had
come
not
to
want
them
;
disappointment
he
had
not
had
,
and
the
hard
measure
of
public
applause
suited
him
better
than
the
fond
exaggerations
of
home
,
to
which
he
had
not
grown
up
,
nor
been
bettered
by
them
.
Life
was
a
fine
,
hard
reality
to
him
;
he
knew
it
,
for
evil
and
good
,
and
while
he
destroyed
every
illusion
as
fast
as
they
courted
him
,
he
looked
keenly
to
its
enjoyments
and
rated
them
by
the
vast
power
of
pleasure
within
him
which
he
shared
with
most
healthy
and
active
human
beings
.
He
was
passing
some
weeks
at
a
country
house
,
where
his
late
very
hard
work
gave
zest
to
the
summer
repose
in
which
the
old
place
lay
buried
.
Long
,
solitary
,
morning
walks
in
the
heavenly
beauty
of
a
hot
July
did
his
thinking
faculties
good
,
after
their
late
stretch
upon
other
men’s
thoughts
.
The
society
of
well
educated
women
,
their
music
,
their
vivacity
,
their
fancies
;
the
riding
parties
,
the
evenings
when
there
was
dancing
,
or
the
garden
by
moonlight
,
and
the
pleasure
of
pretending
to
feelings
,
and
,
as
it
were
,
acting
them
,
for
they
were
no
better
to
him
than
a
play
,
these
things
suited
him
for
a
little
while
,
till
the
moment
should
come
for
executing
the
projects
in
his
head
which
would
drive
all
the
present
scene
far
away
.
He
had
everything
to
recommend
him
to
the
world
.
A
fine
person
,
full
of
health
and
strength
,
a
fortune
and
a
place
which
were
competent
to
ordinary
wishes
,
and
had
been
augmented
by
all
the
savings
of
a
well
managed
minority
;
a
high
reputation
for
ability
;
and
natural
claims
on
certain
great
names
for
assistance
in
entering
on
his
career
.
His
manner
was
more
taking
than
winning
,
he
took
hold
on
society
as
if
it
were
his
due
place
,
and
his
admirable
tact
made
him
hold
it
gracefully
,
and
to
the
delight
of
his
companions
.
These
qualities
and
advantages
had
made
a
strong
impression
on
the
fancy
of
the
young
lady
who
presided
over
the
house
.
She
was
the
owner’s
sister
,
a
few
years
older
than
my
hero
(
whom
I
will
call
Leslie
,
though
I
do
not
assert
that
such
was
indeed
his
name
)
;
she
was
handsome
,
rich
,
and
hitherto
courted
by
all
whom
she
had
a
mind
should
do
so
.
But
it
was
not
so
with
her
present
guest
;
he
often
seemed
on
the
brink
of
fascination
,
and
then
,
like
Sampson
,
burst
the
withies
like
burnt
flax
and
was
as
free
as
ever
.
The
irritation
of
this
state
of
things
was
excessive
;
she
longed
to
break
through
the
feminine
restraints
which
bound
her
,
and
ask
him
if
indeed
he
cared
for
her
or
not
.
The
absolute
impossibility
of
thus
setting
herself
free
was
a
galling
chain
,
for
ever
working
on
the
wounded
place
;
and
the
necessity
of
a
smiling
face
,
and
disengaged
manner
,
at
times
when
she
was
fretting
at
her
heart’s
core
,
acquainted
her
with
a
torment
which
the
daughters
of
Eve
sometimes
heavily
endure
.
“
Let
us
ride
this
afternoon
,
”
she
said
,
one
hot
but
cloudy
day
;
“
the
air
of
the
house
burns
one
.
”
“
With
all
my
heart
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
but
we
shall
have
a
storm
.
”
“
I
am
not
afraid
,
”
said
Laura
.
“
Would
I
were
quite
sure
that
,
in
fact
,
you
have
no
fears
!
”
“
Oh
!
I
would
tell
them
.
I
am
very
frank
,
I
hate
concealment
.
It
is
very
hard
on
women
that
they
are
required
to
be
liars
and
deceivers
.
”
“
But
that’s
not
the
case
,
”
said
Leslie
,
“
what
is
so
delightful
to
a
man
as
a
frank
,
open
nature
which
prints
its
thoughts
as
fast
as
they
come
into
the
mind
.
”
“
So
you
say
,
but
you
know
it
is
not
so
—
at
least
,
not
unless
a
woman
has
no
thought
whatever
,
except
the
price
of
a
dress
or
the
hope
of
a
ball
.
”
“
Oh
,
that
would
not
pay
the
expense
of
printing
or
reading
either
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
but
what
has
this
to
do
with
your
first
plan
of
riding
?
Shall
we
go
?
”
“
Yes
;
Mrs.
Axross
,
you
will
ride
?
and
Captain
Bertham
—
ring
;
the
horses
are
ready
in
case
we
should
want
them
.
Come
and
put
on
your
habit
.
”
When
they
got
on
horseback
,
Leslie
perversely
kept
with
Mrs.
Axross
,
a
timid
horsewoman
,
and
in
consequence
of
being
occupied
with
genuine
fear
,
a
rather
dull
companion
.
They
fell
behind
the
others
,
whose
horses
stepped
out
freely
under
lightly
held
bits
,
nor
did
Miss
Chanson
know
how
to
alter
the
order
of
their
progress
.
When
she
contrived
,
under
pretence
of
pointing
out
a
view
,
or
a
remarkable
tree
,
to
get
back
to
the
loiterers
,
she
still
found
that
Leslie
adhered
to
his
first
companion
,
and
suffered
her
again
to
get
before
him
.
“
How
I
hate
a
horse
that
can’t
walk
,
”
she
said
,
at
last
,
impatiently
striking
her
own
,
which
bounded
at
the
unjust
assault
and
tossed
his
head
angrily
.
“
Well
,
then
let
us
gallop
,
”
said
Leslie
,
laughing
,
for
he
read
her
heart
exactly
.
“
My
companion
,
”
he
added
,
as
they
went
off
,
“
thinks
only
of
keeping
her
seat
.
When
she
gets
home
safe
,
she
will
have
fulfilled
the
sole
purpose
of
riding
out
.
”
“
Well
,
I’m
better
than
that
,
”
said
Laura
,
her
spirits
rising
instantly
,
“
I
can
enjoy
all
when
there
is
anything
to
enjoy
—
but
Captain
Bertham
is
so
stupid
.
”
Leslie
laughed
again
,
for
he
knew
that
Captain
Bertham
did
not
deserve
a
reproach
of
which
he
felt
himself
to
be
the
indirect
cause
.
“
How
can
anyone
be
dull
with
you
for
a
companion
,
”
said
he
,
again
,
as
they
increased
their
pace
and
went
gaily
along
.
Laura
was
pleased
,
she
did
not
consider
that
she
had
provoked
the
compliment
,
and
that
it
is
only
voluntary
attentions
from
a
man
that
tell
.
“
Here
come
the
great
raindrops
,
”
said
Leslie
,
as
the
first
of
the
storm
fell
one
by
one
.
“
Oh
,
no
!
it
is
only
the
last
of
a
shower
.
See
,
it
is
blowing
over
.
”
“
I
don’t
see
it
at
all
,
but
if
you
order
me
to
see
it
,
I
will
.
”
“
I
do
,
then
,
”
said
Laura
,
gaily
;
“
so
let
us
go
on
.
”
“
Was
that
lightning
or
not
?
”
said
Leslie
,
as
a
flash
startled
their
horses
,
and
thunder
rolled
at
a
distance
.
“
It
was
not
,
”
said
Laura
;
“
come
on
.
”
“
On
,
on
,
to
the
end
of
the
world
under
your
guidance
.
”
But
now
the
rain
at
once
arrived
and
poured
upon
them
.
“
What
will
Mrs.
Axross
do
,
”
said
Laura
,
laughing
;
“
she
will
walk
her
horse
all
the
way
home
,
for
fear
he
should
jump
at
the
storm
.
We
must
turn
back
and
look
for
them
.
”
Leslie
rather
wondered
she
should
do
so
,
instead
of
profiting
by
her
present
tête‐à‐tête
with
him
;
but
presently
he
understood
the
manœuvre
.
When
they
came
to
a
cross
road
,
she
examined
the
footmarks
on
the
road
,
and
declared
it
was
most
extraordinary
,
but
certainly
their
companions
had
gone
the
wrong
way
.
“
They
will
get
lost
in
the
wood
,
”
she
said
;
“
and
what
will
Mr.
Axross
say
,
if
we
go
home
without
his
wife
?
Let
us
canter
up
here
and
set
them
right
.
We
shall
overtake
them
in
a
minute
.
”
“
You
will
be
wet
through
,
”
said
Leslie
.
“
No
,
no
,
canter
home
!
”
“
I
don’t
care
;
go
home
if
you
like
.
”
“
No
,
I
am
yours
,
to
the
very
skin
”
said
Leslie
,
venturing
on
a
brutality
.
Miss
Chanson
did
not
look
angry
,
and
on
they
went
,
away
from
home
.
Presently
a
little
farmhouse
appeared
in
sight
.
“
They
have
taken
shelter
there
,
”
said
the
lady
,
“
no
doubt
.
Come
,
let
us
see
if
they
are
to
be
found
;
”
and
arriving
at
the
door
,
she
jumped
from
her
horse
,
saying
to
the
farmer
,
who
came
out
at
the
sound
of
horses
,
“
My
friends
are
here
,
are
not
they
?
Come
,
Mr.
Leslie
.
”
He
followed
,
after
first
putting
the
horses
into
the
stable
,
and
giving
them
over
to
the
care
of
the
farmer’s
boy
,
and
found
,
his
companion
standing
before
the
kitchen
fire
,
her
hat
off
,
her
hair
let
down
to
dry
,
and
her
habit
open
.
“
The
weather
is
too
bad
to
stay
in
,
is
not
it
?
”
she
said
,
as
he
came
in
.
“
Let
us
wait
till
the
storm
goes
by
;
”
and
she
pulled
her
dress
together
.
“
A
lucky
storm
for
me
,
”
said
Leslie
,
glancing
at
her
disarranged
toilette
.
“
Why
are
these
lovely
tresses
locked
up
in
ribbon
and
garlands
—
not
always
thus
delightfully
visible
?
”
Laura
affected
embarrassment
,
and
hastily
twisted
them
in
her
hands
,
but
yielded
to
slight
impulse
from
Leslie
to
release
them
.
Finally
she
placed
herself
in
a
very
picturesque
attitude
on
what
is
called
the
settle
,
by
the
fire
,
and
Leslie
carried
on
briskly
the
conversation
she
affected
.
“
All
this
time
,
”
said
he
,
at
last
,
when
the
flirtation
became
a
little
wearisome
,
“
what
is
become
of
Mrs.
Axross
?
”
“
I
had
almost
forgotten
her
,
”
said
Laura
,
softly
,
with
a
smothered
sigh
.
“
I
had
quite
done
so
,
”
said
Leslie
,
sighing
also
.
“
Only
you
recollected
her
,
”
said
Laura
,
a
little
reproachfully
.
“
Nay
,
the
storm
is
over
.
It
is
getting
late
.
I
would
not
have
you
catch
cold
for
the
world
—
I
would
not
be
responsible
for
the
anxiety
your
absence
will
create
—
I
would
not
have
you
exposed
to
further
rain
—
I
would
...
...
”
“
Get
home
in
time
for
dinner
,
”
interrupted
Laura
,
very
impatiently
.
Then
checking
herself
,
she
added
,
as
gaily
as
she
could
,
“
which
would
be
an
excellent
thing
,
for
I
am
very
hungry
.
”
“
Then
heaven
forbid
you
should
wait
!
”
said
Leslie
.
“
I’ll
fetch
the
horses
in
a
moment
.
”
Accordingly
he
went
himself
to
the
stable
,
and
forgot
to
lament
the
loss
of
the
beautiful
curls
,
which
were
twisted
under
the
hat
when
he
came
back
;
and
placing
Laura
on
her
horse
,
they
rode
home
together
,
the
lady
feeling
in
herself
that
hollowness
in
her
satisfaction
which
comes
when
the
foundation
of
a
very
gay
and
promising
structure
wants
perfect
solidity
.
“
How
very
handsome
he
is
,
”
she
said
to
herself
,
as
she
ran
up
the
house‐steps
;
“
how
agreeable
—
and
I
don’t
feel
sure
he
will
make
himself
agreeable
next
time
—
that
makes
one
curious
to
be
with
him
again
.
”
The
butler
stopped
her
in
the
hall
,
and
said
,
“
Miss
Elinor
Ladylift
was
arrived
.
”
“
Ha
!
our
little
nun
,
”
said
she
,
turning
back
to
Mr.
Leslie
;
“
we
did
not
expect
her
till
to‐morrow
.
Come
and
see
her
.
”
He
followed
her
into
the
room
,
and
saw
standing
by
the
table
a
young
figure
,
perfectly
enveloped
in
a
gray
cloak
,
while
a
veil
concealed
her
features
from
any
one
at
a
little
distance
.
The
only
characteristic
which
he
could
observe
was
,
that
the
flowers
on
the
table
trembled
,
as
if
the
hand
which
rested
on
it
gave
them
that
motion
.
“
Oh
!
my
dear
,
I
did
not
know
you
would
be
here
to‐day
.
I
beg
your
pardon
for
not
being
here
to
receive
you
.
You
forgive
me
,
don’t
you
?
”
“
Yes
!
”
said
a
low
,
timid
voice
.
Miss
Chanson
laughed
.
“
That’s
all
right
!
Then
come
along
with
me
,
for
I
am
wet
through
:
you
would
not
have
me
die
of
cold
,
would
you
?
”
“
No
!
”
said
the
voice
.
“
Right
,
again
!
I’ll
show
you
your
room
—
but
first
I’ll
present
Mr.
Leslie
to
you
.
This
is
Mr.
Leslie
,
my
dear
.
”
“
Is
it
?
”
said
the
voice
again
.
“
Yes
,
indeed
!
”
and
again
Laura
laughed
,
looking
up
at
the
young
man
sportively
,
and
taking
the
girl’s
arm
went
out
of
the
room
with
her
.
“
There’s
no
fear
that
she
will
captivate
any
one
whom
I
choose
for
myself
,
especially
such
a
man
as
that
,
so
brilliant
himself
,
and
so
fond
of
intellect
and
manner
,
”
thought
she
.
That
perfect
security
at
first
sight
generally
ends
in
a
total
contradiction
.
I
have
remarked
it
as
often
as
the
case
of
security
has
taken
place
.
“
She
is
tired
and
frightened
,
and
won’t
come
to
dinner
,
”
said
Miss
Chanson
,
as
she
entered
the
drawing‐room
after
dressing
.
“
No
wonder
!
the
inside
of
a
convent
is
all
she
knows
of
life
.
”
“
What
does
she
look
like
?
”
asked
her
brother
,
a
man
five‐and‐twenty
years
older
than
the
bright
Laura
,
and
an
indifferent
,
idle
bachelor
,
who
disregarded
his
appearance
,
and
looked
yet
ten
years
older
than
he
was
,
in
consequence
.
“
She
is
a
pale
,
slight
girl
,
”
said
Laura
,
“
and
expects
to
be
devoured
by
all
of
us
.
She
has
the
least
possible
French
accent
,
and
moves
about
like
a
mouse
.
”
CHAPTER
III
.
THE
next
day
,
Elinor
appeared
at
breakfast
,
coming
into
the
room
close
at
the
side
of
her
hostess
,
to
whom
she
clung
,
and
sat
down
in
the
next
chair
,
which
vexed
Laura
,
for
it
was
Mr.
Leslie’s
habitual
place
.
He
took
the
one
below
Elinor
,
and
endeavoured
to
engage
her
in
conversation
,
but
was
received
like
an
enemy
,
and
did
not
seek
to
avoid
Miss
Chanson’s
looks
of
intelligence
,
who
remarked
silently
on
the
repulses
he
suffered
.
The
impression
on
him
,
however
,
was
not
exactly
what
he
allowed
Laura
to
believe
.
He
remarked
the
delicate
shape
of
the
pale
face
,
the
ease
of
the
slight
figure
,
the
fine
form
of
the
hands
,
which
,
if
not
very
white
as
yet
,
were
formed
in
the
noblest
feminine
model
.
Her
gray
gown
was
perfectly
simple
,
and
it
was
quite
uninteresting
to
him
whether
it
was
cut
fashionably
or
unfashionably
.
The
eyes
,
which
were
kept
cast
down
on
her
plate
so
pertinaciously
,
excited
his
curiosity
;
he
wanted
to
find
some
phrase
which
should
raise
them
,
that
he
might
see
them
.
Interest
was
awakened
,
but
do
and
say
what
he
would
,
he
never
succeeded
,
during
all
that
breakfast
,
in
making
her
look
at
him
.
She
disappeared
when
it
was
over
,
and
he
saw
her
not
again
till
after
dinner
,
when
,
on
coming
into
the
drawing‐room
,
he
found
her
seated
close
to
Miss
Chanson
,
diligently
at
work
.
The
latter
was
becoming
a
little
tired
of
such
close
companionship
;
she
could
not
rise
from
her
chair
,
but
what
Elinor
did
the
same
,
thereby
preventing
many
manœuvres
hitherto
easy
to
practise
.
“
My
dear
child
,
if
you
like
that
place
,
keep
it
,
”
said
she
;
“
the
lamp
suits
your
work
,
and
I
must
go
to
talk
to
that
stupid
old
lady
,
whom
it
is
my
duty
to
amuse
.
”
“
Shall
I
go
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
They
always
used
to
send
me
to
talk
to
Madame
Les
Forces
.
”
“
Did
you
succeed
?
”
said
Laura
,
laughing
sarcastically
.
“
Yes
,
sometimes
.
”
“
But
you
don’t
know
this
lady
—
shall
you
have
the
courage
?
”
“
Why
not
?
”
“
Nay
,
you
will
not
speak
one
syllable
to
Mr.
Leslie
.
”
“
No
!
”
“
And
why
?
”
said
Laura
.
“
I
talk
to
him
—
we
all
talk
.
”
“
The
Reverend
Mother
said
I
must
not
.
”
“
Did
she
say
you
might
speak
to
none
but
women
?
”
said
Leslie
,
very
gently
.
“
Yes
!
”
“
Oh
!
that’s
excellent
!
”
cried
Laura
.
“
My
dear
nun
,
you
must
get
rid
of
some
of
those
maxims
;
you
are
in
a
very
different
place
from
your
nunnery
.
Don’t
make
yourself
ridiculous
.
”
The
young
girl
coloured
excessively
;
she
was
too
young
to
bear
being
ridiculous
,
too
,
fond
of
her
habitual
teachers
to
fancy
they
could
be
misinformed
.
She
was
perplexed
,
and
rising
,
shrank
away
to
the
stupid
lady
,
whose
work
she
began
admiring
;
and
as
long
as
no
one
else
heard
her
voice
,
contrived
to
keep
up
a
dialogue
.
“
What
a
quaint
little
creature
!
”
said
Miss
Chanson
,
“
But
now
I’ll
do
my
part
to
amuse
the
other
stupid
people
,
by
giving
you
all
some
music
.
”
“
Do
,
”
said
Mr.
Leslie
;
“
though
you
know
I
am
so
lost
in
dulness
as
to
talk
most
when
music
is
best
.
”
“
I
know
that
;
but
at
all
events
I
entertain
you
even
in
that
case
.
”
She
said
this
rather
sentimentally
;
and
Mr.
Leslie
opened
the
piano‐forte
,
and
talked
a
little
nonsense
while
she
arranged
her
books
.
When
fairly
embarked
,
and
when
other
people
collected
round
her
,
and
they
were
all
interested
with
her
performance
and
their
own
,
he
drew
gradually
to
the
side
of
Elinor
,
and
watched
his
chance
of
speaking
to
her
.
She
listened
to
the
music
,
which
was
very
good
,
with
great
interest
;
but
she
drew
away
from
him
,
and
he
could
do
no
better
than
some
dialogue
with
the
stupid
old
lady
.
At
last
,
when
there
was
a
pause
in
the
performance
,
he
took
up
his
courage
,
and
said
boldly
to
Elinor
,
“
You
perceive
,
Miss
Ladylift
,
that
they
are
all
tired
,
and
can
play
and
sing
no
more
.
You
ought
to
assist
them
—
you
ought
to
help
in
amusing
us
all
.
”
She
rose
in
a
moment
,
as
if
bound
to
obey
whoever
commanded
her
,
and
walked
towards
the
piano‐forte
.
“
Mr.
Leslie
told
me
I
ought
to
sing
,
”
she
said
.
“
Ought
I
?
”
“
To
be
sure
,
if
you
can
.
But
what
—
not
psalm
tunes
?
”
“
Very
well
,
I
will
not
.
I
know
a
great
many
airs
which
Frère
du
Lap
taught
all
the
pensionnaires
.
”
“
I
should
like
to
hear
Frère
du
Lap’s
scholar
very
much
,
”
said
Laura
.
“
Should
you
?
”
said
Elinor
,
looking
up
at
her
,
unconscious
of
the
sarcasm
;
and
she
placed
herself
before
the
piano‐forte
.
Now
nature
had
made
her
a
present
of
a
voice
,
such
as
she
gives
very
rarely
:
“
It
were
the
bul‐bul
,
but
his
throat
,
Tho’
sweet
,
ne’er
uttered
such
a
note
.
”
It
was
no
merit
of
Elinor’s
;
there
seemed
no
object
in
bestowing
it
upon
her
;
but
she
was
lucky
in
being
the
one
to
get
it
,
for
its
effect
was
to
dispose
the
hearers
to
love
her
.
It
was
as
pure
as
the
song
of
the
angels
heard
by
Handel
,
and
set
down
by
him
as
sung
to
the
Shepherds
;
it
had
been
well
taught
,
also
,
so
that
it
was
a
delight
to
the
ear
,
a
charm
to
the
heart
.
Leslie
,
who
was
moving
away
,
stopped
as
she
began
to
sing
,
and
turned
to
fasten
his
eyes
upon
her
,
as
upon
a
new
sense
of
delight
,
a
pleasure
revealed
for
the
first
time
.
She
rose
up
when
it
was
done
;
indeed
,
she
had
not
actually
sat
down
,
but
had
bent
one
knee
towards
the
level
of
the
piano‐forte
,
and
played
an
accompaniment
varying
with
the
words
.
She
was
plainly
a
perfect
mistress
of
her
art
;
and
,
according
to
the
fashion
of
drawing‐rooms
,
her
performance
was
greeted
with
clapping
of
hands
,
and
a
few
bravas
.
She
looked
round
,
astonished
;
and
if
any
one
had
desired
another
song
,
would
have
obeyed
;
but
Miss
Chanson
came
up
with
the
last
notes
,
and
after
a
brief
thank
you
,
led
her
away
,
saying
her
voice
seemed
a
little
tired
.
She
then
organized
other
amusements
,
and
the
music
was
over
for
the
evening
.
Mr.
Leslie
contrived
to
elude
them
all
,
and
very
quietly
coming
up
beside
Elinor
,
he
said
to
her
,
“
That
song
is
one
I
shall
never
forget
.
I
shall
hear
many
more
,
I
hope
,
but
the
first
time
one
listens
to
a
perfect
thing
it
is
remembered
for
ever
.
”
Elinor
shook
her
head
.
“
My
Mother
told
me
you
would
say
so
.
”
“
That
I
should
say
so
?
How
could
the
Holy
Mother
know
anything
of
me
?
”
“
Not
of
you
,
but
of
all
.
”
“
She
could
,
only
say
that
all
of
us
should
be
aware
you
have
one
of
the
finest
voices
in
the
world
.
”
“
Yes
,
she
did
say
so
—
that
you
would
try
to
persuade
me
of
it
.
”
“
I
don’t
wish
it
to
be
thought
of
me
that
I
would
persuade
any
one
to
believe
an
untrue
thing
.
Let
us
consider
for
a
moment
,
”
and
he
sat
down
beside
her
at
the
table
,
leaning
upon
it
,
and
trying
to
look
in
her
face
,
which
was
bent
over
her
work
.
“
You
have
heard
the
music
of
this
evening
?
”
“
Yes
!
”
“
It
was
very
good
,
was
it
not
?
”
“
Very
good
,
very
strong
;
I
never
heard
such
before
.
”
“
But
was
there
any
voice
as
expressive
as
yours
?
”
“
No
!
”
“
Or
that
was
so
un
like
a
flute
,
or
an
organ
,
or
a
harp
,
but
was
so
purely
human
;
the
perfection
of
human
.
”
“
I
cannot
hear
my
own
voice
.
”
“
Surely
,
Miss
Ladylift
,
you
can
.
”
Elinor
knew
she
could
,
and
he
put
the
question
plainly
.
She
suddenly
lifted
up
her
large
eyes
upon
him
,
and
looked
full
into
his
for
a
moment
—
there
was
an
anxiety
to
penetrate
his
meaning
,
but
it
yielded
in
another
instant
to
the
dread
of
encountering
a
stranger’s
gaze
;
however
,
he
had
seen
those
large
eyes
.
“
You
can
if
you
will
,
”
said
he
;
“
every‐
body
can
judge
themselves
as
well
as
they
can
judge
other
people
,
if
they
will
be
honest
to
themselves
.
And
it
is
not
being
honest
,
to
think
worse
of
oneself
than
is
the
truth
.
”
“
My
dear
Mother
told
me
my
voice
was
such
a
voice
as
hundreds
of
others
have
.
”
“
But
what
do
you
think
yourself
?
”
“
I
believe
her
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
Yes
,
surely
,
”
answered
Leslie
,
afraid
of
alarming
his
companion
.
“
She
spoke
her
entire
conviction
,
no
doubt
;
still
she
judged
from
her
Convent
alone
.
There
,
perhaps
,
where
all
is
holy
,
all
dedicated
to
divine
things
,
the
inhabitants
may
be
blessed
,
many
of
them
,
with
gifts
like
the
one
you
have
in
your
voice
;
but
it
is
not
so
in
the
world
.
You
are
in
the
world
now
;
you
must
judge
by
what
you
see
and
hear
;
you
may
find
there
are
things
unlike
those
which
the
Reverend
Mother
knows
.
”
“
Oh
!
she
cannot
be
mistaken
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
Only
ask
yourself
whether
she
is
,
”
said
Leslie
.
“
If
so
,
some
things
which
were
good
guides
in
the
convent
,
may
lead
wrong
here
.
”
Elinor
answered
nothing
.
The
first
doubt
of
the
kind
was
painful
,
the
more
so
because
her
honest
nature
saw
that
perhaps
it
was
true
.
After
a
pause
,
she
said
,
“
Who
can
I
trust
,
then
?
”
“
I
know
this
outer
world
,
”
said
Leslie
.
“
But
I
do
not
know
you
,
”
said
Elinor
;
“
I
know
nobody
.
I
will
do
my
best
;
you
must
not
try
to
prevent
me
.
If
you
liked
my
singing
,
I
am
glad
of
that
;
but
perhaps
you
do
not
understand
music
,
and
then
you
cannot
judge
.
”
“
No
,
perhaps
I
do
not
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
you
know
I
can
only
say
what
I
honestly
feel
.
”
“
Yes
,
to
be
sure
!
I
know
you
do
that
.
Everybody
does
that
,
”
said
Elinor
,
speaking
as
she
had
been
unconsciously
taught
,
and
as
she
felt
,
that
though
there
were
wicked
people
in
the
world
,
nobody
with
whom
one
associates
could
be
in
the
number
of
those
wicked
.
Mr.
Leslie
abhorred
Laura
for
coming
up
and
interrupting
the
conversation
.
She
said
she
was
sorry
to
see
Elinor
look
so
pale
;
no
doubt
she
was
used
to
very
early
hours
in
the
Convent
,
and
she
had
better
go
to
bed
.
She
did
not
say
she
thought
her
young
friend
tired
;
for
knowing
her
not
to
be
tired
,
she
felt
that
Elinor
would
say
No.
“
You
have
persuaded
the
nun
to
talk
,
Mr.
Leslie
,
”
said
she
;
“
how
clever
you
are
.
”
“
It
gives
one
an
interest
in
succeeding
,
when
the
task
is
so
difficult
,
”
said
Mr.
Leslie
.
“
No
doubt
;
a
woman
who
has
the
audacity
to
know
or
feel
anything
,
and
to
say
it
,
must
expect
the
contempt
of
the
nobler
sex
.
”
“
Why
so
?
,
”
said
Leslie
,
coolly
.
“
Men
are
so
short‐sighted
,
so
easily
taken
in
.
If
women
affect
simplicity
and
reserve
,
men
see
no
further
than
just
what
those
women
give
themselves
the
trouble
to
put
on
.
”
“
Is
that
little
girl
a
dissembler
?
”
“
Oh
!
I
suppose
you
can
judge
.
”
“
I
should
judge
not
;
but
you
know
best
.
”
“
If
I
knew
anything
,
I
would
not
say
it
against
my
friend
,
”
said
Laura
.
“
My
nature
is
more
constant
than
that
.
”
“
More
generous
than
that
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
constant
is
not
the
word
,
for
your
acquaintance
is
so
short
.
It
is
indeed
very
generous
.
”
Laura
liked
the
words
,
and
did
not
understand
further
,
and
though
she
was
not
satisfied
,
she
went
away
fancying
she
was
.
Next
morning
,
every
one
else
being
occupied
in
their
rooms
with
what
letter‐writing
or
other
business
they
might
have
,
Laura
,
who
could
not
lose
any
chance
of
being
with
Leslie
,
and
Leslie
,
who
could
lose
none
of
being
with
Elinor
,
and
Elinor
,
who
fixed
herself
upon
Laura
as
her
best
safety
in
the
new
scenes
,
were
all
three
in
the
library
,
standing
about
,
looking
at
a
print
or
a
flower
,
and
not
knowing
very
well
what
to
do
.
Elinor
only
was
at
ease
,
knitting
gloves
,
move
where
she
would
.
“
Suppose
,
”
said
Leslie
,
“
we
show
the
wood‐walk
to
Miss
Ladylift
.
Would
it
not
be
a
good
employment
of
this
delightful
morning
?
”
Laura
assented
;
that
WE
sounded
so
pleasantly
to
her
.
Accordingly
,
each
lady
took
up
a
parasol
in
the
hall
,
and
they
all
stepped
into
the
perfumed
air
,
and
proceeded
down
some
broad
steps
,
which
led
from
the
garden
to
the
steep
wooded
banks
below
the
house
.
Elinor
was
delighted
:
the
space
,
the
depth
below
,
the
vast
summer
hall
made
by
the
wood
,
and
the
pavement
of
ferns
,
flowers
,
and
briar
,
over
which
the
shadows
of
the
leaves
scattered
their
moving
patterns
;
the
silence
which
seemed
to
come
from
far
,
and
go
afar
,
charmed
her
opening
imagination
.
As
they
proceeded
,
a
vague
feeling
of
fear
mingled
with
her
pleasure
.
She
had
never
known
the
sense
of
distance
before
.
“
Shall
we
know
how
to
go
back
,
”
said
she
;
“
but
no
doubt
you
will
.
”
“
No
fear
of
that
,
”
said
Laura
,
looking
behind
at
the
walk
they
had
come
along
;
“
the
way
is
not
difficult
.
”
“
And
may
you
go
here
as
far
as
you
like
?
”
said
Elinor
,
thinking
of
her
Convent
restrictions
.
“
Who
can
doubt
that
?
”
said
Laura
,
scornfully
;
“
or
that
you
may
do
so
likewise
?
In
a
Convent
they
are
children
all
their
lives
;
but
you
must
take
off
your
leading‐strings
.
”
Elinor
,
till
now
,
had
never
ceased
to
lean
on
some
one
for
every
action
of
her
life
.
Yet
she
got
a
lesson
then
which
went
straight
home
,
not
to
betray
her
want
of
help
to
those
who
could
scoff
her
for
it
.
Leslie
thought
that
the
sooner
she
learned
to
doubt
her
former
teachers
the
better
.
He
had
an
idea
he
could
give
her
lessons
himself
.
They
went
on
,
therefore
,
on
and
on
till
Elinor
,
who
had
never
known
what
it
was
to
take
a
walk
,
was
tired
.
She
longed
intensely
for
rest
;
her
limbs
ached
;
they
required
absolutely
the
new
stringing
of
repose
.
Leslie
observed
it
,
and
proposed
to
sit
down
,
but
Laura
poured
forth
her
playful
scorn
upon
a
girl
who
pretended
not
to
be
up
to
a
mile‐and‐a‐half
walk
.
As
for
herself
,
she
must
confess
to
strength
—
half‐a‐dozen
miles
were
nothing
to
her
.
Elinor
felt
ashamed
;
but
was
unconscious
that
Laura
meant
to
insinuate
that
the
fatigue
was
affected
.
“
I
wish
I
could
do
like
you
,
”
she
said
;
“
but
I
have
not
learned
to
walk
.
”
“
Dear
baby
,
”
said
Laura
;
“
still
at
nurse
?
I
wish
I
could
carry
you
!
”
Elinor
looked
at
each
companion
,
with
the
mournful
simplicity
of
a
child
who
has
committed
a
fault
it
does
not
comprehend
.
Leslie
was
enchanted
.
“
It
is
a
science
you
must
practise
,
”
said
he
.
“
It
was
a
fault
not
to
have
attended
to
your
education
in
that
respect
.
”
Elinor
was
quite
ready
to
acknowledge
herself
wrong
,
and
to
feel
inwardly
that
her
bringing
up
was
not
so
faultless
as
she
had
thought
.
At
this
moment
,
however
,
her
wishes
were
all
limited
to
rest
,
and
gladly
did
she
sink
upon
the
seat
at
which
Leslie
prevailed
on
Laura
to
stop
;
but
Laura
was
so
restless
,
that
Leslie
at
last
started
up
with
a
new
project
in
his
head
,
and
proposed
that
they
two
alone
should
make
for
the
point
at
which
Laura
had
intended
to
reach
,
and
should
leave
their
companion
to
enjoy
a
little
repose
before
they
returned
for
her
to
go
home
.
“
Unless
you
are
afraid
,
”
said
Laura
,
turning
round
on
Elinor
.
“
No
,
I
am
not
afraid
,
for
you
say
there
is
no
danger
,
”
said
Elinor
.
And
now
Leslie
hurried
his
companion
away
,
and
pushing
himself
into
the
highest
spirits
,
rallied
her
on
her
activity
,
her
delightful
health
and
strength
,
till
Laura
,
quite
deceived
,
quickened
her
pace
to
the
very
utmost
,
and
went
over
hill
and
dale
at
his
side
,
with
no
idea
but
that
of
keeping
up
the
contrast
between
herself
and
the
timid
Elinor
.
It
was
not
till
he
had
carried
her
along
with
him
to
a
point
much
nearer
to
the
house
than
to
Elinor
,
that
he
suddenly
affected
to
remember
their
charge
.
“
Meantime
,
what
have
we
done
with
your
ward
,
your
nursling
?
Is
not
it
time
to
go
back
for
her
?
”
He
was
well
aware
at
this
moment
that
Laura
was
most
thoroughly
wearied
herself
,
and
that
by
a
little
contrivance
he
was
secure
of
going
alone
to
conduct
the
young
nun
home
again
.
“
What
!
had
you
forgotten
her
?
”
said
Laura
.
“
Could
I
think
of
more
than
one
?
”
said
Leslie
,
with
a
look
of
gentleness
.
“
And
that
one
was
of
course
absent
,
”
said
Laura
.
“
Ah
!
I
see
,
”
said
Leslie
,
affecting
a
little
pique
,
“
that
I
am
little
understood
.
But
at
this
moment
,
”
he
added
,
quieting
his
voice
,
“
however
that
may
be
,
we
must
run
back
to
take
up
our
charge
,
for
do
you
know
what
o’clock
it
is
?
”
Laura
looked
at
her
watch
.
“
Why
did
you
allow
me
to
forget
time
in
this
way
?
”
said
she
.
“
Was
I
likely
to
remind
you
?
”
said
Leslie
.
“
But
at
all
events
I
will
repair
my
error
,
at
whatever
sacrifice
.
I
will
force
myself
”
—
“
from
you
,
”
he
thought
of
saying
,
but
that
was
rather
too
strong
an
expression
to
come
easily
,
so
he
began
again
—
“
I
will
force
myself
through
the
world
of
briars
by
the
brook
side
,
which
will
take
me
back
to
Miss
Ladylift
more
quickly
than
the
path
we
have
followed
,
and
I
will
bring
her
to
join
you
by
the
garden
road
,
which
is
,
I
suppose
,
the
nearest
way
to
the
house
.
Even
your
delightful
intrepidity
would
shrink
from
the
brook
side
,
and
,
indeed
,
should
it
be
otherwise
,
I
would
not
permit
you
to
hazard
yourself
so
perilously
.
”
He
was
on
his
feet
as
he
said
this
,
and
Laura
,
heated
and
wearied
,
could
do
nothing
but
agree
;
he
looked
back
as
he
plunged
into
the
thicket
,
and
waving
his
hand
,
saw
,
and
smiled
to
see
,
that
she
was
waiting
for
some
such
token
,
and
then
sank
upon
the
bench
almost
as
weary
as
Elinor
had
been
.
It
was
very
easy
for
him
to
force
his
way
along
the
brook
,
over
great
stones
,
and
among
tangled
creepers
and
underwood
;
and
indeed
,
his
desire
to
reach
the
place
where
he
had
left
Elinor
,
made
these
obstacles
almost
unperceived
,
and
brought
him
,
in
a
very
short
time
,
straight
to
the
root‐house
in
which
they
had
parted
from
her
.
He
hoped
she
would
be
panting
with
alarm
,
and
crouching
almost
weeping
for
the
want
of
some
one
to
reassure
her
;
certainly
she
would
not
have
ventured
back
alone
.
Could
he
see
her
white
dress
?
not
yet
,
trees
were
in
the
way
;
he
could
not
see
it
—
she
was
not
there
—
yes
,
yes
,
quite
in
the
corner
,
there
was
some
one
.
Now
,
how
gently
he
would
he
comfort
her
,
and
she
would
cling
to
his
arm
.
But
there
was
no
such
scene
in
store
for
him
.
Elinor
,
as
though
confiding
in
the
assurance
of
safety
she
had
received
,
had
laid
her
cheek
upon
her
arm
and
had
fallen
asleep
.
The
shadow
of
the
root‐house
had
probably
fostered
the
inclination
of
her
eyes
to
close
;
her
lips
were
parted
,
her
hair
pushed
off
her
face
,
her
colour
heightened
by
the
heat
;
she
lay
or
reclined
there
,
at
rest
,
and
Leslie
paused
suddenly
as
he
perceived
her
sleeping
figure
.
But
the
presence
of
a
human
being
,
the
involuntary
motions
of
life
near
her
broke
her
slumber
;
she
opened
her
eyes
,
and
the
habitual
associations
of
her
education
,
caused
her
a
burst
of
alarm
as
she
perceived
who
was
so
close
to
her
.
She
sprang
up
and
a
step
or
two
away
from
him
.
“
Oh
,
do
not
harm
me
!
”
she
cried
,
involuntarily
;
then
she
collected
her
senses
,
and
a
deep
blush
spread
over
her
face
.
“
I
would
die
sooner
than
harm
you
!
”
cried
Leslie
,
fervently
;
but
approaching
no
nearer
than
where
he
stood
when
she
sprang
up
.
“
I
came
,
”
he
added
,
after
a
pause
,
“
I
came
to
be
of
use
,
if
possible
.
Miss
Chanson
is
gone
home
,
and
I
will
take
you
to
her
.
”
“
You
need
not
,
”
said
Elinor
,
“
she
told
me
the
way
was
very
easy
to
find
—
I
can
find
the
way
.
”
“
But
,
why
should
I
not
?
”
said
Leslie
.
“
I
left
Miss
Chanson
on
purpose
to
be
of
use
to
you
.
She
did
not
despise
my
services
,
and
she
thought
you
would
not
.
”
“
Oh
,
I
do
not
even
think
of
such
a
word
,
”
said
Elinor
,
coming
a
step
nearer
.
“
That
is
the
only
feeling
that
can
make
you
refuse
so
very
common
a
service
,
”
said
Leslie
,
trying
to
wear
an
air
of
proud
humiliation
.
“
Indeed
,
indeed
,
not
!
but
I
did
not
know
—
I
thought
—
I
had
better
go
home
alone
.
”
So
you
had
,
innocent
Elinor
,
but
he
cared
not
for
that
.
“
If
you
so
much
dislike
me
as
a
companion
,
”
said
Leslie
,
“
I
will
go
.
”
“
I
cannot
dislike
you
,
”
said
Elinor
;
“
it
would
be
wrong
to
dislike
anybody
.
”
“
I
thought
you
did
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
still
,
in
order
to
be
of
any
use
to
you
,
I
came
to
see
whether
you
were
still
here
.
”
“
That
was
good
of
you
,
very
good
,
thank
you
,
”
said
Elinor
;
“
it
was
doing
me
good
even
when
you
thought
so
ill
of
me
—
when
you
thought
I
was
so
unjust
.
Pray
forgive
me
.
”
“
Yes
,
surely
,
”
said
Leslie
,
holding
out
his
hand
.
She
looked
him
steadily
in
the
face
for
a
few
seconds
,
and
then
took
his
hand
.
“
You
cannot
think
I
would
harm
you
now
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
what
your
Reverend
Mother
said
in
the
Convent
,
did
not
mean
me
.
”
“
No
,
you
are
not
what
she
meant
.
She
said
I
should
be
told
of
merits
I
had
not
,
but
you
tell
me
of
my
faults
.
”
“
You
see
,
then
,
that
Miss
Chanson
and
others
,
every
one
,
in
fact
,
is
right
in
making
me
a
companion
.
Till
you
came
here
nobody
guessed
it
could
be
wrong
.
You
have
brought
your
own
ideas
among
us
.
”
“
Oh
,
no
,
don’t
say
that
;
I
did
not
mean
it
.
I
did
not
know
what
people
did
here
,
that
is
all
.
”
“
Exactly
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
and
now
shall
we
go
home
?
”
“
Yes
,
if
you
please
,
”
said
Elinor
.
She
took
up
her
parasol
and
they
walked
leisurely
along
.
“
You
never
,
”
said
her
companion
,
“
saw
forests
,
and
great
open
skies
,
and
plains
,
in
the
Convent
?
”
“
Never
,
”
said
Elinor
.
“
But
we
walked
in
the
garden
,
and
might
sow
flower
seeds
,
and
have
beautiful
flowers
,
and
sometimes
we
went
to
the
common
,
and
the
hill
.
”
“
Did
you
read
sometimes
of
other
fine
things
,
such
as
these
woods
?
”
“
Yes
.
”
“
Are
they
like
what
you
expected
?
”
“
No
,
I
did
not
know
how
beautiful
they
are
.
”
“
I
should
like
to
show
you
what
I
saw
as
I
came
up
the
brook
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
you
are
not
tired
now
,
are
you
?
Will
you
come
a
little
out
of
the
way
?
”
Elinor
assented
,
eagerly
,
wishing
to
atone
for
having
been
tired
once
to‐day
.
Leslie
went
off
the
path
,
and
she
followed
,
till
the
bank
became
steep
and
very
inconvenient
.
Then
he
held
out
his
hand
and
she
leaned
upon
it
as
if
it
had
been
a
helping
stick
;
she
wanted
it
again
,
up
a
few
steep
stones
in
the
bank
,
and
when
she
was
at
the
top
of
those
she
came
upon
a
sight
which
made
her
pluck
away
her
hand
altogether
to
fold
both
in
speechless
delight
.
The
brook
just
in
front
of
her
came
down
under
rocks
which
nearly
met
above
it
,
and
leaped
about
twenty
feet
from
the
edge
of
its
bed
to
the
pool
below
.
The
white
foam
,
the
graceful
motion
and
shape
,
the
sweet
confusing
sound
,
the
freshness
,
took
her
very
soul
by
surprise
,
and
she
was
melted
to
tears
.
“
There
—
I
knew
I
should
give
you
pleasure
,
”
said
Leslie
;
“
that
is
why
I
brought
you
here
.
”
“
But
so
much
pleasure
is
wrong
,
is
not
it
?
”
said
Elinor
.
“
I
learned
in
my
lessons
that
St.
Francis
,
when
he
crossed
some
mountains
which
were
very
beautiful
,
kept
his
eyes
always
on
the
ground
not
to
see
them
.
”
Leslie
did
not
say
aloud
,
“
Abject
fool
!
”
he
said
it
only
to
himself
;
to
Elinor
he
said
,
“
I
should
think
that
very
wicked
,
because
his
Creator
offered
him
the
pleasure
,
and
he
would
not
take
it
.
”
“
What
do
you
mean
?
”
.
said
Elinor
,
aghast
.
“
It
is
the
waterfall
gives
me
pleasure
.
”
“
Still
,
”
said
Leslie
,
“
it
has
got
no
pleasure
of
its
own
.
”
“
Has
not
it
?
yes
—
no
—
yes
,
it
pleases
me
,
it
delights
me
.
”
“
But
it
runs
on
day
and
night
without
being
happy
.
”
“
That
is
because
it
is
not
alive
.
”
“
It
runs
over
the
rock
because
water
must
fall
when
it
comes
to
a
height
,
and
it
makes
a
noise
because
any
one
thing
filling
on
another
must
make
a
noise
,
and
the
trees
grow
over
it
,
because
there
were
seeds
from
which
they
sprang
;
but
they
are
all
dead
,
as
you
say
,
and
not
happy
.
The
pleasure
is
something
different
from
all
those
things
.
It
is
in
your
mind
.
It
is
a
gift
to
you
,
conveyed
by
things
which
have
it
not
,
and
,
therefore
,
a
gift
for
which
you
ought
to
be
grateful
and
use
it
.
”
“
Could
St.
Francis
be
wrong
?
”
said
Elinor
.
“
Nay
,
I
really
think
if
you
were
to
refuse
to
look
at
all
this
,
you
would
be
ungrateful
to
me
,
who
brought
you
here
,
in
the
first
place
,
and
much
more
you
ought
to
enjoy
it
,
when
you
are
so
made
that
your
nature
is
to
enjoy
.
”
“
You
think
I
may
like
it
as
much
as
I
can
?
”
“
Ay
,
freely
,
freely
;
whatever
is
pleasant
is
in
your
nature
to
enjoy
.
”
“
Whatever
is
pleasant
?
”
said
Elinor
,
reflecting
on
the
many
things
,
the
late
rising
,
the
neglected
task
,
the
idle
play
,
the
lingering
over
her
toilette
,
which
were
pleasant
but
which
she
had
been
told
were
wrong
,
and
warned
against
the
pleasure
of
them
.
Leslie
enjoyed
the
confusion
into
which
she
was
running
.
“
Why
,
so
it
seems
to
me
,
”
said
he
,
with
a
candid
tone
.
Elinor
was
silent
;
he
was
no
longer
in
haste
to
proceed
,
he
lingered
with
her
,
teaching
her
that
pleasure
was
her
lawful
guide
;
and
when
,
at
last
,
they
went
forward
,
moved
as
slowly
as
she
was
inclined
to
move
and
wore
away
the
time
,
so
that
when
they
got
back
to
the
house
,
Laura
had
,
long
before
,
been
compelled
to
give
up
waiting
for
them
;
had
gone
in
alone
,
had
been
forced
to
preside
over
luncheon
and
to
eat
with
the
rest
,
or
affect
to
eat
,
and
after
delaying
to
the
utmost
,
had
been
driven
from
all
excuses
,
and
forced
to
bid
the
servants
bring
round
,
the
carriage
,
previously
ordered
for
an
expedition
.
Just
as
she
and
her
guests
were
going
through
the
hall
to
set
out
,
Mr.
Leslie
appeared
alone
coming
up
to
the
door
.
A
sudden
hope
shot
through
Laura’s
heart
that
he
had
been
alone
since
she
left
him
.
Elinor
might
have
lost
her
way
in
the
wood
,
but
of
course
she
would
soon
be
found
;
and
with
all
this
unworded
she
accosted
him
.
“
So
;
have
you
been
looking
for
her
all
this
time
...
...
”
“
For
Miss
Ladylift
?
oh
,
no’
;
I
brought
her
home
very
slowly
,
for
she
was
so
much
tired
.
She
went
through
the
breakfast
parlour
to
her
own
room
”
“
Slowly
,
indeed
!
”
said
Laura
,
disdainfully
;
“
you
have
been
two
hours
and
a
half
on
the
way
.
”
“
To
me
it
seemed
twice
that
,
”
said
Leslie
,
in
a
very
low
voice
.
Laura’s
lips
relaxed
by
a
line
,
no
more
.
“
You
will
come
with
us
?
”
said
she
,
looking
at
the
phaeton
which
followed
the
great
barouche
,
and
in
which
,
if
he
liked
,
he
might
offer
to
drive
her
.
“
That
would
be
most
delightful
,
”
said
Leslie
,
“
but
I
had
not
time
for
my
letters
this
morning
.
I
must
write
them
to‐day
—
besides
I
must
get
a
crust
of
bread
;
besides
I
am
in
no
condition
to
sit
by
the
side
of
delicate
silks
.
No
,
I
must
sacrifice
that
happiness
.
”
Laura
tossed
her
head
,
and
turned
away
;
and
Leslie
was
very
glad
to
have
got
off
this
tax
upon
him
.
CHAPTER
IV
.
LAURA’S
anger
and
jealousy
were
almost
more
than
she
could
bear
.
She
learned
to
know
that
beating
heart
,
that
dry
mouth
,
that
distaste
to
food
,
that
early
waking
and
no
more
falling
asleep
,
which
make
up
the
personal
sufferings
of
mental
anguish
.
She
had
to
talk
,
to
listen
,
to
make
music
,
while
intensely
preoccupied
;
and
she
had
the
pain
of
perceiving
that
Leslie
grew
more
and
more
indifferent
to
keeping
up
the
appearances
of
devotion
to
herself
,
and
became
,
like
her
,
absorbed
by
one
object
,
but
that
object
was
not
Laura
Chanson
.
Little
incidents
of
this
kind
altered
the
position
of
the
three
persons
whom
we
have
presented
to
the
reader
.
From
a
forlorn
stranger
,
Elinor
began
to
feel
herself
familiarised
with
persons
and
things
,
and
to
be
aware
that
many
were
more
favourable
to
her
than
the
mistress
of
the
house
,
whom
she
had
looked
upon
as
about
to
take
the
place
of
the
Superior
in
her
Convent
.
Leslie
,
who
had
thought
of
nothing
but
amusing
himself
for
a
month
or
so
,
gradually
found
himself
interested
in
a
pursuit
,
which
,
at
