ed.

"You couldn't go wrong, ma'am," she said civilly, "I 'ave no one in my
rooms at this present, except Mr. Copley. I suppose you are his
daughter, ma'am?"

"His daughter," Dolly repeated, standing still and facing the landlady,
and keeping down all outward expression of the excitement which was
consuming her. She knew she kept it down; she faced the woman steadily
and calmly, and the landlady was more and more humbly civil. "Mr.
Copley is not ill?" Dolly went on.

"Oh, dear, no, ma'am! not to call h'ill. Mr. Copley is in enjoyment of
very good 'ealth; as I 'ave occasion to know, ma'am, who cooks his
meals for him. I can allers tell by that. When a gentleman or a lady
'as good taste for their victuals, I think it's no 'arm if they sleeps
a little long in the morning; it's a trifle onconvenient to the 'ouse,
it may be, when things is standing roun', but it's good for
theirselves, no doubt, and satisfyin' and they'll be ready for their
breakfast when they comes h'out. And shall I wake Mr. Copley for you,
ma'am? It's time for him, to be sure."

"Thank you, no; you need not do anything. I will sit here and wait a
little."

"And Mr. Copley's coffee'll be ready for him, ma'am, when he's ready
for h'it. Mr. Copley, he sets a good deal by his coffee, and likes it
made particular, and he _gets_ it made particular. Didn't Mr. Copley
tell you, ma'am, as his coffee was satisfactory?"

"I daresay it is," said Dolly; "and I will ring for it when my father
wants it. You may leave me; I will wait here."

The landlady had been going round the room, picking up a bit of paper
here and wiping her apron over a table there, the while taking a
careful view of Dolly and examining her all over. Dolly's figure and
manner were irreproachable; and with renewed proffers of service, the
woman at last, having no choice, left the room. Dolly stood still a
moment then, collecting herself and looking at the situation. Past one
o'clock, and her father not out of his room! That was not like any of
his habits, as she knew them; and Dolly stood with the shadow of a
nameless fear falling across her spirit. Nameless, and formless; she
did not discern it clearly or attempt to examine it; the mere shadow of
it chilled her to the bone. She stood thinking, and trembling. Not at
his office for several days, though business must be calling for him;
not out of his room at one o'clock in the afternoon, though all his old
simple home habits were opposed to