"It won't do to put it into the post-bag," she said; "we will got out at the post office, and post it when we drive out this afternoon, and then I will tell papa this evening, after dinner."
Oh, how thankful I was to hear her express this determination! I felt as if a great load had been lifted off my heart.
[CHAPTER X.]
EVELYN'S CONFESSION.
EVELYN was very pale, and trembled very much, as dinner time drew near. She went downstairs as usual, and tried to talk to her father, and to appear as if nothing was the matter; but I could see that it was a very great effort for her to do so, and that she was dreading the time when her secret must be told. She had posted the letter to her cousin that afternoon, so it was too late to draw back; and I do not think that she wished to do so, but she dreaded her father's displeasure, and longed to feel that the trying disclosure was made.
When dinner was over we went into the library, and Sir William made Evelyn lie down on her couch, for he had noticed that she was pale and tired, and I, according to previous arrangement with Evelyn, made some excuse for leaving the room, and left her alone with her father.
I went upstairs into Evelyn's room, and sat waiting for the result, and praying that she might have courage to tell Sir William all, and that he might not be very angry. It seemed a long time before any one came. I took up a book and tried to read, but, though my eyes followed the words, I could not fix my thoughts upon what I was reading. Then I tried to sew, but that attempt was also a failure. So I went to the window, and sat looking out at the setting sun till the room grew dark. Then Clemence, Evelyn's maid, came into the room for something, and, seeing that I was in darkness, she lighted the gas, and drew the curtains, and then once more I was left alone.