But seeing the tears on Emily's
cheeks, she sat down beside her, and said, 'Dearest Emily, if you would
only confide in me!'
'There's nothing to confide....'
'You mustn't give way like this; you really mustn't. Come down and have
some dinner.'
'It is no use; I couldn't eat anything.'
'He may come into the drawing-room in the course of the evening, and will
be so disappointed and grieved to hear that you have not been down.'
'No; he will spend the whole evening in his room; we shall not see him
again.'
'But if I go and ask him to come; if I tell him----'
'No; do not speak to him about me; he'd only say that I was interfering
with his work.'
'That is unjust, Emily; he has never reproached you with interfering with
his work. Shall I go and tell him that you won't come down because you
think he is angry with you?'
Ten minutes passed, and no answer could be obtained from Emily--only
passionate and illusive refusals, denials, prayer to be left alone; and
these mingled with irritating suggestions that Julia had better go at once,
that Hubert might be waiting for her. But Julia bore patiently with her and
did not leave her until Hubert sent to know why his dinner was delayed.
Emily had begun to undress; and, tearing off her things, she hardly took
more than five minutes to get into bed.
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