Elizabeth rose from her sofa and put her face and dress in such order as a few minutes could do. She had but come back from doing this, and was standing before the table, when Winthrop came in. It was much earlier than usual. Elizabeth looked, but he did not answer, the wonted question. He led her gently to the window and placed himself opposite to her.
"You must leave here, Miss Elizabeth," he said.
"Must I?" — said Elizabeth looking up at him and trembling.
"You must —" he answered very gently.
"Why, Mr. Landholm?" Elizabeth dared to say.
"Because there is no longer any reason why you should stay here."
She trembled exceedingly, but though her very lips trembled, she did not cry. He would have placed her on a chair, but she resisted that and stood still.
"Where do you want me to go, Mr. Winthrop?" she said presently, like a child.
"I will take you wherever you say — to some friend's house?"
She caught at his arm and her breath at once, with a kind of sob; then releasing his arm, she said,