nor.

"Sure, my dear. All is quite right."

Then Ellinor went to sleep again out of very weakness and weariness.

From that time she recovered pretty steadily. Her great desire was to
return to East Chester as soon as possible. The associations of grief,
anxiety, and coming illness, connected with Hellingford, made her wish to
be once again in the solemn, quiet, sunny close of East Chester.

Canon Livingstone came over to assist Miss Monro in managing the journey
with her invalid. But he did not intrude himself upon Ellinor, any more
than he had done in coming from home.

The morning after her return, Miss Monro said:

"Do you feel strong enough to see Dixon?"

"Is he here?"

"He is at the canon's house. He sent for him from Bromham, in order that
he might be ready for you to see him when you wished."

"Please let him come directly," said Ellinor, flushing and trembling.

She went to the door to meet the tottering old man; she led him to the
easy-chair that had been placed and arranged for herself; she knelt down
before him, and put his hands on her head, he trembling and shaking all
the while.

"Forgive me all the shame and misery, Dixon. Say you forgive me; and
give me your blessing. And then let never a word of the terrible past be
spoken between us."

"It's not for me to forgive you, as never did harm to no one--"

"But say you do--it will ease my heart."

"I forgive thee!" said he. And then he raised himself to his feet with
effort, and, standing up above her, he blessed her solemnly.

After that he sat down, she by him, gazing at him.

"Yon's a good man, missy," he said, at length, lifting his slow eyes and
looking at her. "Better nor t'other ever was."

"He is a good man," said Ellinor.

But no more was spoken on the subject. The next day, Canon Livingstone
made his formal call. Ellinor would fain have kept Miss Monro in the
room, but that worthy lady knew better than to stop.

They went on, forcing talk on indifferent subjects. At last he could
speak no longer on everything but that which he had most at heart. "Miss
Wilkins!" (he had got up, and was standing by the mantelpiece, apparently
examining the ornaments upon it)--"Miss Wilkins! is there any chance of
your giving me a favourable answer now--you know what I mean--what we
spoke about at the Great Western Hotel, that day?"

Ellinor hung her head.

"You know that I was once engaged before?"

"Yes! I know; to Mr. Corbe