"Of course I did; what else could I say."
Mr. Mellen laughed and went out of the room.
Elsie was standing by the fire, she was always complaining of cold, and Elizabeth walked towards her as the door closed.
"Don't!" whispered Elsie, "you are going to talk—don't!"
Elizabeth dropped into a seat with a wearied look, such as a person wears after hours of self-restraint.
"It's of no use to talk," said Elsie, with an impatient gesture. "You ought not to have gone out——"
"I know; but I dared not wait. Oh, Elsie! such a scene——"
"Be still!" exclaimed Elsie, with the old passion which seemed so foreign to her nature. "I can't hear—I won't! Grantley saw you!"
"Yes; he was in the hall when I entered," she replied, with the same dreary despair in her voice. "I know, I feel that something will happen at last."
"There must not—there shall not!" broke in Elsie.