It must be talked
over, etc. etc.
But just then, Griff told us, Frank Fordyce jumped up and turned
round with the sudden exclamation, 'Ellen!' looking towards the door
behind him with blank astonishment, as he found it had neither been
opened nor shut. He thought his daughter had recollected something
left behind, and coming in search of it, had retreated
precipitately. He had seen her, he said, in the mirror opposite.
Griff told him there was no mirror, and had to carry a candle across
to convince him that he had only been looking at the door into the
inner room, which though of shining dark oak, could hardly have made
a reflection as vivid as he declared that his had been. Indeed, he
ascertained that Ellen had never left her own room at all. 'It must
have been thinking about the dear child,' he said. 'And after all,
it was not quite like her--somehow--she was paler, and had something
over her head.' We had no doubt who it was. Griff had not seen
her, but he was certain that there had been none of the moaning nor
crying, 'In fact, she has come to give her consent,' he said with
earnest in his mocking tone.
'Yes,' said Clarence gravely, and with glistening eyes. 'You are
happy Griff. It is given to you to right the wrong, and quiet that
poor spirit.'
'Happy! The happiest fellow in the world,' said Griff, 'even
without that latter clause--if only Madam and the old man will have
as much sense as she has!'
The next day was a thoroughly uncomfortable one.
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