‘No, no; I have some one to see on the road, and shall walk. John, mind you drive to Mrs Bold’s house first.’

Eleanor, looking out of the window, saw him with his hat in his hand, bowing to her with his usual gay smile, as though nothing had happened to mar the tranquillity of the day. It was many a long year before she saw him again. Dr Stanhope hardly spoke to her on her way home: and she was safely deposited by John at her own hall–door, before the carriage drove into the close.

And thus our heroine played the last act of that day’s melodrama.