ns makes sense
to us. Eliza only came to understand what was being talked of when the
visitor said "No, I'm afraid there's no doubt about the poor girl's
death. After there had been two or three snow-storms there was evidently
no use in looking for her any more; but even then, I think it was months
before _he_ gave up hopes of her return. Night after night he used to
hoist a pinewood torch, thinking she might have fallen in with Indians
and be still alive and trying to make her way back. The fact of the
matter was, Mrs. Rexford, Bates _loved_ her, and he simply _could not_
give her up for dead."

The young man had as many emphasised words in his speech as a girl might
have had, yet his talk did not give the impression of easily expressed
feeling.

"Ah, it was very sad."

"Yes, I didn't know I could have minded so much a thing that did not
affect me personally. Then when he had given up hope of finding her
living, he was off, when the spring came, everywhere over the woods,
supposing that if she had perished, her body could be found when the
snow was gone. I couldn't help helping him to search the place for miles
round. It's a fine place in spring, too; but I don't know when one cares
less about spring flowers than when one's half expecting the dead body
of a girl to turn up in every hollow where they grow thickest. I've
beaten down a whole valley of trillium lilies just to be sure she had
not fallen between the rocks they grew on. And if I felt that way, you
may suppose it was bad enough for Bates."

"He seems to have had a feeling heart."

"Oh well, he had brought the girl up. I don't think he cared for
anything in the world but her."

"And Dr. Nash saw Mr. Bates as soon as you got him to your brother's? If
Dr. Nash thinks he'll pull through I should think you must feel
hopeful."

"Yes--well, I left him on the sofa. He's rather bad."

There was a pause, as if Mrs. Rexford might be sighing and shaking her
head over some suffering before described.

Sophia had gone to the milk cellar to get cream for tea. Eliza followed
her out into the yard.

"I had better not stay to tea," said she, "there won't be room."

"Oh yes, there will; I have a headache, so I'm not going into the
dining-room."

"Then I won't stay. I would rather come some night when you are there."

"How handsome your dress looks! You are getting quite a fine lady,
Eliza."

"My dress!" said Eliza, looking down at it. It seemed to her so long