She would not yield beyond this. But the hour of return came, and her father delayed. Then was every minute an eternity. No longer able to keep her reclining position, she stood again by the window, and her eyes lost their vision from straining upon one spot, that at which Hood would first appear. She leaned her head upon the window-sill, and let her ears take their turn of watching; the first touch of a hand at the gate would reach her. But there came none. Can hours thus be lived through? Ah, which of us to whom time has not been a torment of hell? Is there no nether Circle, where dread anticipation eternally prolongs itself, eternally varied with hope in vain for ever? Mrs. Hood had abandoned her useless protests; she came and sat by the girl. 'I've no doubt he's gone to the Walkers',' she kept saying, naming acquaintances with whom Hood occasionally spent an evening. Then, 'And why need you wait for him, my dear? Can't he go up and see you as soon as he gets in?' 'Mother,' Emily said at last, 'will you go to the Walkers' and ask? It is not really very far. Will you go?' But, my child, it will take me at least an hour to walk there and back! I should only miss him on the way. Are you afraid of something? 'Yes, I am. I believe something has happened to him.' 'Those are your fancies. You are very poorly; it is cruel to me to refuse to go to bed.' 'Will you go, mother?--If you do not, I must; ill or not, I must go.' She started to her feet. Her mother gazed at her in fear,--believing it the beginning of delirium. 'Emily, my dear child,' she pleaded, laying her hand on the girl's arm, 'won't you come upstairs,--to please me, dear?' 'Mother, if you will go, I promise to lie here quietly till you return.' 'But it is impossible to leave you alone in the house. Look, now, it is nine o'clock; in half an hour, an hour at most, your father will be back. Why, you know how often he stays late when he gets talking.' Emily was silent for a few minutes. Then she said-- 'Will you ask Mrs. Hopkins to send her servant?' 'But think--the trouble it will be giving.' 'Will you do it? I wish it. Will you go and ask her I will give the girl money.' 'If you are so determined, of course I will ask her. But I'm sure--'