"You did not tell me where your sister is, Mr. Howard—or else I have forgotten: where is it?"
"In North Wales, not far from Denbigh. I am going shortly to fetch her home."
"I think you are always going somewhere; ever since I knew you, you have been perpetually offering to go away. Do you ever put it in practice."
"Sometimes—you will find I shall in this instance. I must go to fetch Clara, the only question is when?"
"And does that depend on Mrs. Willis' wishes, or your caprice."
"A little on both, if you mean by caprice the power of absenting myself from the duties of my station," replied he.
"I wish I had met Mrs. Willis," said Emma; "pray make haste and fetch her, for if I leave the country without our meeting now, it is impossible to say when, if ever, I shall see her again."
"Are you going quite away then?" enquired he with concern. "I thought your home was at Croydon."
"It is impossible to say where my home may be—not Croydon certainly—perhaps I may never have another. I must in future be content to dwell amongst strangers, and dare not talk of home. I am wishing for a situation as governess."
A slight shade of melancholy replaced the usually gay expression of her countenance as she said this, but she did not raise her eyes to read the many conflicting feelings which were depicted in his countenance as he listened to her low and feeble voice. He could not command words to express his sentiments, or indeed feel at all sure us to what he ought to express at the moment; and she added, after a short pause,