He came back to Grinselhof late at night, seated himself at the supper-table silent and resigned, and, persuading Lenora to go to bed, soon went off to his own chamber.

But his daughter was well aware that he did not retire to rest; for during long hours of wakefulness she heard the floor creak as he paced his apartment with restless steps.
Lenora was brave by nature, and her singular and solitary education had given her a latent force of character that was almost masculine.

By degrees the resolution to make her father reveal his secret grew in her mind.

And, although a feeling of instinctive respect made her hesitate, a restless devotion to the author of her being gradually overcame all scruples and emboldened her for the enterprise.
One day Monsieur De Vlierbeck set off very early for town.

The morning wore away heavily; and, toward the afternoon, Lenora wandered wearily about the desolate house, with no companion but her sad reflections.