nce."

Ellinor covered her face with her hands. "God forgive us all," she said,
and relapsed into the old unbearable silence. Mr. Ness had undertaken to
discuss her future plans with her, and he was obliged to go on.

"Now, my dear child--I have known you since you were quite a little girl,
you know--we must try not to give way to feeling"--he himself was
choking; she was quite quiet--"but think what is to be done. You will
have the rent of this house, and we have a very good offer for it--a
tenant on lease of seven years at a hundred and twenty pounds a year--"

"I will never let this house," said she, standing up suddenly, and as if
defying him.

"Not let Ford Bank! Why? I don't understand it--I can't have been
clear--Ellinor, the rent of this house is all you will have to live on!"

"I can't help it, I can't leave this house. Oh, Mr. Ness, I can't leave
this house."

"My dear child, you shall not be hurried--I know how hardly all these
things are coming upon you (and I wish I had never seen Corbet, with all
my heart I do!)"--this was almost to himself, but she must have heard it,
for she quivered all over--"but leave this house you must. You must eat,
and the rent of this house must pay for your food; you must dress, and
there is nothing but the rent to clothe you. I will gladly have you to
stay at the Parsonage as long as ever you like; but, in fact, the
negotiations with Mr. Osbaldistone, the gentleman who offers to take the
house, are nearly completed--"

"It is my house!" said Ellinor, fiercely. "I know it is settled on me."

"No, my dear. It is held in trust for you by Sir Frank Holster and Mr.
Johnson; you to receive all moneys and benefits accruing from it"--he
spoke gently, for he almost thought her head was turned--"but you
remember you are not of age, and Mr. Johnson and I have full power."

Ellinor sat down, helpless.

"Leave me," she said, at length. "You are very kind, but you don't know
all. I cannot stand any more talking now," she added, faintly.

Mr. Ness bent over her and kissed her forehead, and withdrew without
another word. He went to Miss Monro.

"Well! and how did you find her?" was her first inquiry, after the usual
greetings had passed between them. "It is really quite sad to see how
she gives way; I speak to her, and speak to her, and tell her how she is
neglecting all her duties, and it does no good."

"She has had to bear a still further sorrow to-day," said Mr.