a surreptitious, quite
unjustifiable look as of pleasure in Elinor's eyes, which were less
expanded, and if as liquid as ever, more softly bright than before.
Something white actually lay on the sofa, a small garment which Mrs.
Dennistoun whisked away. They were conscious of John's critical eye
upon them, and received him with a warmth of conciliatory welcome which
betrayed that consciousness. Mrs. Dennistoun drew a chair for him to
the other side of the fire. She took her own place in the middle at the
table with a large piece of white knitting, to which she gave her whole
attention, and thus the deliberation began.

"Elinor wants to know, John, what you think we ought to do--to make
quite sure--that there will be no risk, about the baby."

"I must know more of the details of the question before I can give any
advice," said John.

"John," said Elinor, raising herself in her chair, "here are all the
details that are necessary. I have come away. I have come home, finding
that life was impossible there. That is the whole matter. It may be,
probably it is, my own fault. It is simply that life became impossible.
You know you said that I was not one to endure, to put up with things. I
scoffed at you then, for I did not expect to have anything to put up
with; but you were quite right, and life had become impossible--that is
all there is any need to say."

"To me, yes," said John, "but not enough, Elinor, if it ever has to come
within the reach of the law."

"But why should it come within the reach of the law? You, John, you are
a lawyer; you know the rights of everything. I thought you might have
arranged it all. Couldn't you try to make a kind of a bargain? What
bargain? Oh, am I a lawyer, do I know? But you, John, who have it all at
your fingers' ends, who know what can be done and what can't be done,
and the rights that one has and that another has! Dear John! if you were
to try, don't you think that you could settle it all, simply as between
people who don't want any exposure, any struggle, but only to be quiet
and to be let alone?"

"Elinor, I don't know what I could do with so little information as I
have. To know that you found your life impossible is enough for me. But
you know most people are right in their own eyes. If we have some one
opposed to us who thinks, for instance, that the fault was yours?"

"Well," she cried, eagerly, "I am willing to accept that: say that the
fault was mine! You could confirm it