Nor did the struggle end that night. It was renewed with still
greater positiveness the next day, as I witnessed the glances
which from time to time passed between this father and
daughter,--glances full of doubt and question on both sides, but
not exactly such doubt or such question as my suspicions called
for. Or so I thought, and spent another day or two hesitating
very much over my duty, when, coming unexpectedly upon Mr. Grey
one evening, I felt all my doubts revive in view of the
extraordinary expression of dread--I might with still greater
truth say fear--which informed his features and made them, to my
unaccustomed eyes, almost unrecognizable.
He was sitting at his desk in reverie over some papers which he
seemed not to have touched for hours, and when, at some movement
I made, he started up and met my eye, I could swear that his
cheek was pale, the firm carriage of his body shaken, and the
whole man a victim to some strong and secret apprehension he
vainly sought to hide. when I ventured to tell him what I wanted,
he made an effort and pulled himself together, but I had seen him
with his mask off, and his usually calm visage and self-possessed
mien could not again deceive me.
My duties kept me mainly at Miss Grey's bedside, but I had been
provided with a little room across the hall, and to this room I
retired very soon after this, for rest and a necessary
understanding with myself.
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