Ah, how I longed to know the substance of their discourse; for I felt a mysterious presentiment that in some way or another, my future destiny was connected with this stranger.

I recalled the distress of Harrison, the dark hints he had thrown out respecting me, and his evident knowledge, not only of the old woman, but of the purport of her visit.
I was tortured with conjectures.

I lingered in the passage; but the conversation was carried on in too low a tone for me even to distinguish a solitary monosyllable; and ashamed of acting the part of a spy, I stole back with noiseless steps to my place in the office.

I found George at his desk: his face was very pale, and I thought I could perceive traces of strong emotion.

For some time he wrote on in silence, without asking a word about the secret that I was burning to tell.