out almost joyfully as in their old happy expeditions of
old, for that long drive through London in the hansom. And yet the boy
was only lulled for the moment, and in his heart was more and more
perplexed what his mother could mean.

CHAPTER XLIII.

Fortune was favourable to Elinor that day. At the Tower, where she duly
went over everything that was to be seen with Pippo, conscious all the
time of his keen observance of her through all that he was doing, and
even through his interest in what he saw--and feeling for the first time
in her life that there was between her boy and her something that he
felt, something that was not explained by anything she had said, and
that awaited the dreadful moment when everything would have to be
told--at the Tower, as I say, they met some friends from the north, the
rector of the parish, who had come up with his son to see town, and was
naturally taking his boy, as Elinor took hers, to see all that was not
town, in the usual sense of the word. They were going to Woolwich and
Greenwich next day, and with a pang of mingled trouble and relief in her
mind Elinor contrived to engage Pippo to accompany them. On the second
day I think they were to go to St. Katherine's Docks, or the Isle of
Dogs, or some other equally important and interesting sight--far better
no doubt for the two youths than to frequent such places as the Row, and
gaze at the stream of gaiety and luxury which they could not join. Pippo
in ordinary circumstances would have been delighted to see Woolwich and
the docks--but it was so evident to him that his mother was anxiously
desirous to dispose of him so, that his satisfaction was much lessened.
The boy, however, was magnanimous enough to consent without any appearance
of reluctance. In the many thoughts which filled his mind Philip showed
his fine nature, by having already come to consent to the possibility
that his mother might have business of her own into which he had no
right to enter unless at her own time and with her full consent. It
cost him an effort, I allow, to come to that: but yet he did so, and
resolved, a little pride helping him, to inquire no more, and if possible
to wonder or be offended no more, but to wait the time she had promised,
when the old rule of perfect confidence should be re-established between
them. The old rule! if Pippo had but known! nothing yet had given
Elinor such a sense of guilt as his conviction that she had told him
everyth