Chapter 13

           Thefirstunexpectedwordsmayalwaysstartleahearer;butwhentheshockisover,thelistener’sreasonhasasserteditself,andhecanjudgeofthemanner,aswellasofthematter,ofspeech.Thusitwasonthisoccasion.Withintelligencenowalert,IcouldnotdoubtofthesimplesincerityofMargaret’snextquestion.

           "Whathaveyoutwomenbeentalkingaboutallthistime,Mr.Ross?Isuppose,Mr.Corbeckhasbeentellingyouallhisadventuresinfindingthelamps.Ihopeyouwilltellmetoo,someday,Mr.Corbeck;butthatmustnotbetillmypoorFatherisbetter.Hewouldlike,Iamsure,totellmeallaboutthesethingshimself;ortobepresentwhenIheardthem."Sheglancedsharplyfromonetotheother."Oh,thatwaswhatyouweresayingasIcamein?Allright!Ishallwait;butIhopeitwon’tbelong.ThecontinuanceofFather’sconditionis,Ifeel,breakingmedown.AlittlewhileagoIfeltthatmynervesweregivingout;soIdeterminedtogooutforawalkinthePark.Iamsureitwilldomegood.Iwantyou,ifyouwill,Mr.Ross,tobewithFatherwhilstIamaway.Ishallfeelsecurethen."

           Irosewithalacrity,rejoicingthatthepoorgirlwasgoingout,evenforhalfanhour.Shewaslookingterriblyweariedandhaggard;andthesightofherpalecheeksmademyheartache.Iwenttothesick-room;andsatdowninmyusualplace.Mrs.Grantwasthenonduty;wehadnotfounditnecessarytohavemorethanonepersonintheroomduringtheday.