The suggestion of the foolish little imp alone was loud in the heart of his consciousness; the rest hung more in his nerves than in his brain.

He thought: 'Well, I will speak it out to her in the morning'; and thought so sincerely, while an ominous sigh of relief at the reprieve rose from his over-burdened bosom.
Hardly had the weary deep breath taken flight, when the figure of Lady Jocelyn was seen advancing along the corridor, with a lamp in her hand.

She trod heavily, in a kind of march, as her habit was; her large fully-open grey eyes looking straight ahead.

She would have passed him, and he would have let her pass, but seeing the unusual pallor on her face, his love for this lady moved him to step forward and express a hope that she had no present cause for sorrow.
Hearing her mother's name, Lady Jocelyn was about to return a conventional answer.

Recognizing Evan, she said: 'Ah! Mr.Harrington! Yes, I fear it's as bad as it can be.