CHAPTER XLI
CHAPTER XLII
CHAPTER XLIII
CHAPTER XLIV
CHAPTER XLV
CHAPTER XLVI
CHAPTER XLVII
CHAPTER XLVIII
CHAPTER XLIX
CHAPTER L
CHAPTER LI
CHAPTER LII
CHAPTER LIII
CHAPTER LIV
CHAPTER LV
CHAPTER LVI
CHAPTER LVII.
CHAPTER LVIII
CHAPTER LIX
From the time of this arrangement, the ascendance which Mr Nairdobtained over the mind of Elinor, by alternate assurances and alarms,relative to her chances of living to see Harleigh again, produced aquiet that gave time to the drafts, which were administered by thephysician, to take effect, and she fell into a profound sleep. This, MrNaird said, might last till late the next day; Ellis, therefore,promising to be ready upon any summons, returned to her lodging.
Miss Matson, now, endeavoured to make some enquiries relative to thepublic suicide projected, if not accomplished, by Miss Joddrel, whichwas the universal subject of conversation at Brighthelmstone; but whenshe found it vain to hope for any details, she said, 'Such accidents,Ma'am, make one really afraid of one's life with persons one knowsnothing of. Pray, Ma'am, if it is not impertinent, do you still hold toyour intention of giving up your pretty apartment?'
Ellis answered in the affirmative, desiring, with some surprise, toknow, whether the question were in consequence of any apprehension of asimilar event.
'By no means, Ma'am, from you,' she replied; 'you, Miss Ellis, who havebeen so strongly recommended; and protected by so many of our capitalgentry; but what I mean is this. If you really intend to take a smalllodging, why should not you have my little room again up stairs?'
'Is it not engaged to the lady I saw here this morning?'
'Why that, Ma'am, is precisely the person I have upon my mind to speakabout. Why should I let her stay, when she's known to nobody, and isvery bad pay, if I can have so genteel a young lady as you, Ma'am, thatladies in their own coaches come visiting?'
Ellis, recoiling from this preference, uttered words the most benevolent[Pg 364]that she could suggest, of the unknown person who had excited hercompassion: but Miss Matson gave them no attention. 'When one hasnothing better to do with one's rooms, Ma'am,' she said, 'it's sometimesas well, perhaps, to let them to almost one does not know who, as tokeep them uninhabited; because living in them airs them; but that's noreason for letting them to one's own disadvantage, if can do better. Nowthis person here, Ma'am,