No use to try and struggle out of it, stretching her arms up to Robert Lyon's tender, honest, steadfast heart, there to be sheltered, taken care of, and made happy.

No happiness for her! Nothing but to go on enduring and enduring to the end.
Such was Hilary's first emotion; morbid perhaps, yet excusable.

It might have lasted longer--though in her healthy nature it could not have lasted very long--had not the reaction come, suddenly and completely, by the opening of the parlor door, and the appearance of Miss Leaf.
Miss Leaf--pale, indeed; but neither alarmed nor agitated, who hearing somehow that her child had arrived, had hastily dressed herself, and come down stairs, in order not to frighten Hilary.

And as she took her in her arms, and kissed her with those mother-like kisses, which were the sweetest Hilary had as yet ever known--the sharp anguish went out of the poor girl's heart.
"Oh, Johanna! I can bear any thing as long as I have you" And so in this simple and natural way the miserable secret about Ascott came out.
Being once out, it did not seem half so dreadful; nor was its effect nearly so serious as Miss Hilary and Elizabeth had feared .-- Miss Leaf bore it wonderfully; she might almost have known it beforehand; they would have thought she had, but that she said decidedly she had not.
"Still you need not have minded telling me; though it was very good and thoughtful of you Elizabeth.

You have gone through a great deal for our sakes, my poor girl." Elizabeth burst into one smothered sob the first and the last.
"Nay," said Miss Leaf, very kindly; for this unwonted emotion in their servant moved them both.