She heard doors opened and shut, and the trampling of feet the next morning, and when Lionel met her in the schoolroom for their reading, he told her that be had been overtaken by Elliot running down stairs at full speed; and had only just time to clear out of his way. 'And hark! is not there something at the front door? Look out, Marian.'
Marian looked from the window. 'Yes! It is his dog-cart. Can he be going away, Lionel?'
'Going off in a rage!' said Lionel, looking grave; 'I thought there was mischief in his voice last night.'
'Yes, there is his portmanteau,' said Marian, in a tone of consternation; for little as she liked Elliot, it was too shocking to see a son thus leave his father's roof.
'It is a pretty piece of work,' said Lionel. 'He has been coming it a little too strong for my father, it seems! Well, poor Caroline will be let alone, that is one good thing; but I am afraid he will go and get into some tremendous scrape, if it is only for the sake of spiting my father.'
'It is very dreadful!' said Marian, sighing.
'I am very glad my father was so angry, though!' said Lionel. 'Wanting him to drive poor Caroline into it by unkindness! That was a little too bad!'
'Yes, indeed,' said Marian. 'But O! here he comes out of the door with his cigar. He is getting in! There he goes! O, Lionel!'
They both were silent for some little time. Then Marian took up the prayer-book, and began the Psalm, and when she heard Lionel's voice join in the Doxology, a thrill came home to her, making her feel that blindness might yet be indeed the blessing to him that faith taught her to know it must be. How much better to be thus than like his brother.
When they met the others at breakfast, it proved that they alone knew of the departure; Mr. Lyddell interrogated Elliot's servant, and heard from him that he had orders to follow his master to Paris as soon as he had packed up his goods. This was all that could be learnt, and all that Marian could make out as to what had passed, was that he had been strongly averse to Caroline's engagement being broken off, that he had tried to induce his father to insist upon it, and to drive her to overcome her reluctance by what could be only understood as domestic persecution, and that in short he had allowed his unfeeling selfishness to appear to such a degree, that it had positively revolted his father, whose displeasure had long been excited by the extravagance that had been causing serious inconvenience, and who instantly, while under the influence of his first indignation, resolved to show that he would not be domineered over, nor sacrifice the rest of the family to the extravagance which he had already too freely supplied.
Mr. Lyddell had given his consent while angry, and he could not retract it when he was cool. Caroline therefore might write her letter as soon as she pleased. She had nothing to dread from him; indeed, as if out of opposition to Elliot, he was kinder to her than he had ever been before, called her 'my dear' more than once, and observed on her pale looks. Her mother spoke little to her, and that little was cold and unkind, while she looked so vexed and unhappy that even Marian had some feeling for her, and what must it have been for her own daughter? However, all open opposition was withdrawn, and Caroline had only herself to struggle with. There was no reason why she should not once more seek comfort from Marian, yet all that day she kept at a distance, and it was not till the next evening that she came into Marian's room, and sinking into a chair, murmured, 'I have done it.'
'Written your letter?'
'Sent it.'
'O, I am so glad!'
'Glad?'
'Yes, but you will be glad when it is over.'
'O!' sighed Caroline, incredulously. 'You know nothing about it. Marian.'
'Every one must be glad to have done right,' said Marian, firmly.
