Such were the only answers that Lily could extract from him. He did not sufficiently disbelieve the report to treat it with scorn, yet he did not sufficiently credit it to resign himself to such a state of things. On coming home Lily found Emily and Jane in her room, eagerly discussing the circumstances which, to their prejudiced eyes, seemed strong confirmation. While their tongues were in full career the door opened and Eleanor appeared. She told them it was twelve o’clock, turned Jane out of the room, and made Emily and Lily promise not to utter another syllable that night. CHAPTER XXVI THE CRISIS ‘“Is this your care of the nest?” cried he, “It comes of your gadding abroad,” said she.’ TO the consternation of the disconsolate damsels, the first news they heard the next morning was that Mr. Mohun was gone to breakfast at Broomhill, and the intelligence was received by Frank Hawkesworth with a smile which they thought perfectly malicious. Frank, William, and Reginald talked a little at breakfast about the _fête_, but no one joined them, and Claude looked so grave that Eleanor was convinced that he had a headache, and vainly tried to persuade him to stay at home, instead of setting off to Devereux Castle immediately after breakfast. The past day had not been spent in vain by Ada. Mrs. Weston had led her by degrees to open her heart to her, had made her perceive the real cause of her father’s displeasure, see her faults, and promise to confess them, a promise which she performed with many tears, as soon as she saw Eleanor in the morning. On telling this to Emily Eleanor was surprised to find that she was not listened to with much satisfaction. Emily seemed to think it a piece of interference on the part of Mrs. Weston, and would not allow that it was likely to be the beginning of improvement in Ada. ‘The words were put into her mouth,’ said she; ‘and they were an easy way of escaping from her present state of disgrace.’ ‘On the contrary,’ said Eleanor, ‘she seemed to think that she justly deserved to be in disgrace.’ ‘Did you think so?’ said Emily, in a careless tone. ‘You are in a strange mood to-day, Emily,’ said Eleanor. ‘Am I? I did not know it. I wonder where Lily is.’