Chapter 10

           Onemorning,abouttendaysafterMrs.Churchill’sdecease,EmmawascalleddownstairstoMr.Weston,who"couldnotstayfiveminutes,andwantedparticularlytospeakwithher."—Hemetherattheparlour-door,andhardlyaskingherhowshedid,inthenaturalkeyofhisvoice,sunkitimmediately,tosay,unheardbyherfather,

           "CanyoucometoRandallsatanytimethismorning?—Do,ifitbepossible.Mrs.Westonwantstoseeyou.Shemustseeyou."

           "Issheunwell?"

           "No,no,notatall—onlyalittleagitated.Shewouldhaveorderedthecarriage,andcometoyou,butshemustseeyoualone,andthatyouknow—(noddingtowardsherfather)—Humph!—Canyoucome?"

           "Certainly.Thismoment,ifyouplease.Itisimpossibletorefusewhatyouaskinsuchaway.Butwhatcanbethematter?—Isshereallynotill?"

           "Dependuponme—butasknomorequestions.Youwillknowitallintime.Themostunaccountablebusiness!Buthush,hush!"

           Toguesswhatallthismeant,wasimpossibleevenforEmma.Somethingreallyimportantseemedannouncedbyhislooks;but,asherfriendwaswell,sheendeavourednottobeuneasy,andsettlingitwithherfather,thatshewouldtakeherwalknow,sheandMr.WestonweresoonoutofthehousetogetherandontheirwayataquickpaceforRandalls.

           "Now,"—saidEmma,whentheywerefairlybeyondthesweepgates—"nowMr.