Well, there was truth in the old heathen saying, "Let no man be envied till his death." Ellinor had no more rides with her father; no, not ever again; though they had stopped that afternoon at the summit of a breezy common, and looked at a ruined hall, not so very far off; and discussed whether they could reach it that day, and decided that it was too far away for anything but a hurried inspection, and that some day soon they would make the old place into the principal object of an excursion.

But a rainy time came on, when no rides were possible; and whether it was the influence of the weather, or some other care or trouble that oppressed him, Mr.Wilkins seemed to lose all wish for much active exercise, and rather sought a stimulus to his spirits and circulation in wine.

But of this Ellinor was innocently unaware.

He seemed dull and weary, and sat long, drowsing and drinking after dinner.

If the servants had not been so fond of him for much previous generosity and kindness, they would have complained now, and with reason, of his irritability, for all sorts of things seemed to annoy him.
"You should get the master to take a ride with you, miss," said Dixon, one day as he was putting Ellinor on her horse.