Ellinor's next words were a wonderful relief; and her soft gentle way of speaking was like the touch of a cooling balsam.
"Thank you, you must excuse me.

I am come strictly on business, otherwise I should never have thought of calling on you at such an hour.
It is about poor Dixon." "Ah! I thought as much!" said the judge, handing her a chair, and sitting down himself.

He tried to compose his mind to business, but in spite of his strength of character, and his present efforts, the remembrance of old times would come back at the sound of her voice.

He wondered if he was as much changed in appearance as she struck him as being in that first look of recognition; after that first glance he rather avoided meeting her eyes.
"I knew how much you would feel it.

Some one at Hellingford told me you were abroad, in Rome, I think.