But where Nellie could submit, and rest on the assurance of everlasting love, Ada had to fight a hard battle, inch by inch; and in the struggle, she grew older fast, and felt as if the days were years.
About a fortnight after Wilmot Elliot's first call, he came again.
This time it was in the evening, when they were all sitting together in the drawing room. Arthur was reading aloud, and Dr. Arundel rested in his armchair listening, or perhaps not listening, with his eyes closed.
When Wilmot was asked in, Dr. Arundel roused himself, and entered into a pleasant conversation with the young fellow, and Nellie learnt more about his avocations and doings in that hour's talk, than she had done all the while she was at Shellford. More in that way, but not so much in other ways, she thought.
Presently the conversation turned on the narrow escape they had all had at the picnic, and Wilmot explained to them many things which Nellie had never yet had the heart to tell them. Arthur was delighted to hear it all, and the circle gathered round their visitor, eagerly asking questions.
"Hope told me," said Wilmot, "that it would have been but a sorry affair without Miss Arundel."
He looked across to where Nellie sat, so quiet and gentle, stitching away at her work.
"That's always what our Nellie is!" exclaimed Arthur. "The best little woman in the world."
"Hush, Arthur," said Nellie, looking pained; "you know you always think too well of me."
"Do I, though?" he answered. "What should we do without you, I should like to know?"