She sealed the note, and gave it to the man.
Then she sat down and waited for Miss Monro, who had gone to bed on the previous night without awaiting Ellinor's return from the dining-room.
"I am late, my dear," said Miss Monro, on coming down, "but I have a bad headache, and I knew you had a pleasant companion." Then, looking round, she perceived Ralph's absence.
"Mr.Corbet not down yet!" she exclaimed.

And then Ellinor had to tell her the outline of the facts so soon likely to be made public; that Mr.
Corbet and she had determined to break off their engagement; and that Mr.
Corbet had accordingly betaken himself to the Parsonage; and that she did not expect him to return to Ford Bank.

Miss Monro's astonishment was unbounded.

She kept going over and over all the little circumstances she had noticed during the last visit, only on yesterday, in fact, which she could not reconcile with the notion that the two, apparently so much attached to each other but a few hours before, were now to be for ever separated and estranged.

Ellinor sickened under the torture; which yet seemed like torture in a dream, from which there must come an awakening and a relief.