She waited till the door was shut, and then descending, met Simmons, who told her Mr. Elliot had called, and had asked for her.
"Is papa in?" she said.
"He went out five minutes ago."
So Nellie went in, trying to be calm.
Wilmot Elliot came forward, and took her hand, and looked in her face; and Nellie looked up in his in silence.
"I am so dreadfully sorry," he said, speaking in a hushed and altered tone from any she had ever heard from him.
She was going to answer, but her lips quivered, and she hastily turned away, and sat down with her face averted.
"I longed to come, if I might be permitted to try to comfort you or help you; but yet I feared to intrude on you, and so I stayed away, Miss Arundel."
"Oh, no!" said Nellie.
"But you will believe I have not forgotten you?"