Mr. Ravensworth looked at his daughter in silence too; he saw how great her grief was; he saw that she was yet unconscious of all its depth and all her loss; and so at first he spoke not. Five minutes and more of this deadly silence lasted, and then the poor girl's father spoke.
"My poor Ellen! it is a great trial; God give you strength to bear it!"
For a moment she looked at him wildly; for a dread moment he feared her mind had given way beneath the blow; but, heaven be praised! it had not, and in a voice—how unlike her usual silvery tone! she said, "Yes, papa, I am stunned,—stupefied. My God! is it true,—has he left me? Cruel, cruel man! My heart is full,—it is bursting! Would God that it might break!"
"My own Ellen, did I not warn you, dearest,—did I not entreat you——"
"Reason not with despair! No, no, no!—it is vain! He has left me,—left me cruelly! Oh, it was cruel to raise hopes only to quench them! I am desolate. It is no dream,—I am broken-hearted! Let me die! What is life now to me?—let me die!"
"Say not so, darling,—time will heal your wound; he was not worthy of you, Ellen."
"Add not to my grief, dearest papa,—if you love me, desist. It is false! Eternity can never heal that wound,—but speak not so of him! He has left me,—forsaken me,—killed me; but I love him,—I love him still!"
"Be calm, my own love. This is only excitement; try and be calm, Ellen,—do, dearest!"
"I will—I will! See how I bear it! See, I do not weep,—but, oh! my head,—how it throbs! My eyeballs seem of flame,—they are bursting out of my head! My brain seems on fire! Oh, if I could cry! If I could only cry! I cannot,—I have no tears,—they are dried up!"
"I will leave you, darling, now; try and weep if you can; think of something to cry on,—try: it will relieve you."