What spell had this woman exercised?
At any rate, after a few whispered words from her, the Squire bowed his white head and followed her out of the room.
In the hall Elizabeth offered him a candle, and begged him to go to bed.

He shook his head, and pointed to a chair by the dying fire.
'That will do.

Then I shall hear--' He threw himself into it.

She brought him a rug, for the night was chilly, and he submitted.
Then she was going away, for it was past midnight, but something in his fixed look, his dull suffering, checked her.

She took an old stool and sat down near him.