Ellinor was, as
it were, lifted off her feet and borne away by the unanimous opinion of
others--the doctor included--who decided that such a step was highly
desirable; if not absolutely necessary. She knew that she had only a
life interest both in her father's property and in that bequeathed to her
by Mr. Ness. Hitherto she had not felt much troubled by this, as she had
supposed that in the natural course of events she should survive Miss
Monro and Dixon, both of whom she looked upon as dependent upon her. All
she had to bequeath to the two was the small savings, which would not
nearly suffice for both purposes, especially considering that Miss Monro
had given up her teaching, and that both she and Dixon were passing into
years.
Before Ellinor left England she had made every arrangement for the
contingency of her death abroad that Mr. Johnson could suggest. She had
written and sent a long letter to Dixon; and a shorter one was left in
charge of Canon Livingstone (she dared not hint at the possibility of her
dying to Miss Monro) to be sent to the old man.
As they drove out of the King's Cross station, they passed a gentleman's
carriage entering. Ellinor saw a bright, handsome lady, a nurse, and
baby inside, and a gentleman sitting by them whose face she could never
forget. It was Mr. Corbet taking his wife and child to the railway.
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