Page:Gaskell--A dark night's work.djvu/276

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
A DARK NIGHT'S WORK.
265

could she have been face to face with him. As it was, she only wrote this:

“How early can I see you to-morrow morning? Will you take all the necessary steps for my going to Dixon as soon as possible? Could I be admitted to him to-night?”

The pencilled answers were:

“Eight o’clock. Yes. No.”

“I suppose he knows best,” said Ellinor, sighing, as she read the last word. “But it seems wicked in me to be going to bed—and he so near, in prison.”

When she rose up and stood, she felt the former dizziness return, and that reconciled her to seeking rest before she entered upon the duties which were becoming clearer before her, now that she knew all and was on the scene of action. Mrs. Johnson brought her white-wine whey instead of the tea she had asked for; and perhaps it was owing to this that she slept so soundly.