"
Ellinor longed to ask if her father had yet shown himself; but this
question--so natural at any other time--seemed to her so suspicious under
the circumstances, that she could not bring her lips to frame it. At any
rate, she must get up and struggle to make the day like all other days.
So she rose, confessing that she did not feel very well, but trying to
make light of it, and when she could think of anything but the one awe,
to say a trivial sentence or two. But she could not recollect how she
behaved in general, for her life hitherto had been simple, and led
without any consciousness of effect.
Before she was dressed, a message came up to say that Mr. Livingstone was
in the drawing-room.
Mr. Livingstone! He belonged to the old life of yesterday! The billows
of the night had swept over his mark on the sands of her memory; and it
was only by a strong effort that she could remember who he was--what he
wanted. She sent Mason down to inquire from the servant who admitted him
whom it was that he had asked for.
"He asked for master first. But master has not rung for his water yet,
so James told him he was not up. Then he took thought for a while, and
asked could he speak to you, he would wait if you were not at liberty but
that he wished particular to see either master, or you. So James asked
him to sit down in the drawing-room, and he would let you know.
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