Page:Gaskell--A dark night's work.djvu/169

158 friendly interest as must show all passers-by that they were previous friends. Mr. Corbet chafed and fumed inwardly all the way home after this unfortunate occurrence; he was in a thoroughly evil temper before they reached Ford Bank, but he had too much self-command to let this be very apparent. He turned into the shrubbery paths, leaving Ellinor to take her father into the quietness of his own room, there to lie down and shake off his headache.

Ralph walked along, ruminating in gloomy mood as to what was to be done; how he could best extricate himself from the miserable relation in which he had placed himself by giving way to impulse. Almost before he was aware, a little hand stole within his folded arms, and Ellinor’s sweet sad eyes looked into his.

“I have put papa down for an hour’s rest before dinner,” said she. “His head seems to ache terribly.”

Ralph was silent and unsympathizing, trying to nerve himself up to be disagreeable, but finding it difficult in the face of such sweet trust.

“Do you remember our conversation last autumn, Ellinor?” he began at length.

Her head sunk. They were near a garden-seat, and she quietly sat down, without speaking.

“About some disgrace which you then fancied