Then at last she went away, after exacting a promise from Mrs.Goddard to come and dine, bringing Nellie with her, on the following day, in case she should have recovered by that time from her headache.
But during all that night Mrs.Goddard lay awake, listening for the sound she so much dreaded, of a creeping footstep on the slated path outside and for the tapping at the window.

Nothing came, however, and as the grey dawn began to creep in through the white curtains, she fell peacefully asleep.

Nellie would not let her be waked, and breakfasted without her, enjoying with childish delight the state of being waited on by Martha alone.
Meanwhile, at an early hour, John arrived at the vicarage and was received with open arms by Mr.Ambrose and his wife.

The latter seemed to forget, in the pleasure of seeing him again, that she had even once spoken doubtfully of him or hinted that he was anything short of perfection itself.

And to prove how much she had done for him she communicated with great pride the squire's message, to the effect that he expected John at the Hall that very day.
John's heart leaped with delight at the idea.