It is not her fault in any way."
But Elizabeth was obliged to remain two days in London before the
necessary papers were drawn out and signed, and they were days of
constant terror and anguish. She went neither to Antony's house, nor
to his place of business; but remained in her hotel, so anxious on
this subject, that she could not force her mind to entertain any other.
At length all was arranged, and it did comfort her slightly that both
Page and Thorley were touched by her grief and unselfishness into a
spontaneous expression of their sympathy with her:
"You have done a good thing, Miss Hallam," said Mr. Page, "and Page
and Thorley fully understand and appreciate your motives;" and the
kind faces and firm hand-clasps of the two men brought such a look
into Elizabeth's sorrowful eyes, that they both turned hurriedly away
from her. During her journey home she slept heavily most of the way;
but when she awoke among the familiar hills and dales, it was as if
she had been roused to consciousness by a surgeon's knife. A quick
pang of shame and terror and a keen disappointment turned her heart
sick; but with it came also a sense of renewed courage and strength,
and a determination to face and conquer every trouble before her.
Jasper met her, and he looked suspiciously at her. For his part, he
distrusted all women, and he could not understand why his mistress
had found it necessary to go to London.
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