Her anxious feelings in this way toned themselves to mere cheerfulness.

She listened with unfailing patience to the lengthily described details of domestic annoyances of which Mrs.Hood's conversation chiefly consisted, and did her best to infuse into her replies a tone of hopefulness, which might animate without betraying too much.

The hours passed over, and at length it was time to set forth.

Mrs.Hood showed no desire to leave home.

Emily, though foreseeing that she might again be late for tea, did not venture to hint at such a possibility, but started as if for a short walk.
Not much more than a mile from Banbrigg, in a direction away alike from the Heath and from Dunfield, is the village of Pendal, where stand the remains of an ancient castle.