CHAPTER XII Selina, regarding herself as a free agent, since Ireton professed a respect for Ellis that made him ashamed of his former doubts, flew, the next morning, to the chamber of that young person, to talk over the play, Lord Melbury, and Lady Aurora Granville: but found her _protegee_ absorbed in deep thought, and neither able nor willing to converse. When the family assembled to breakfast, Mrs Maple declared that she had not closed her eyes the whole night, from the vexation of having admitted such an unknown Wanderer to sup at her table, and to mix with people of rank. Elinor was wholly silent. They were not yet separated, when Lady Aurora Granville and Mrs Howel called to renew their thanks for the entertainment of the preceding evening. 'But Miss Ellis?' said Lady Aurora, looking around her, disappointed; 'I hope she is not more indisposed?' 'By no means. She is quite well again,' answered Mrs Maple, in haste to destroy a disposition to pity, which she thought conferred undue honour upon the stranger. 'But shall we not have the pleasure to see her?' 'She ... generally ... breakfasts in her own room,' answered Mrs Maple, with much hesitation. 'May I, then,' said Lady Aurora, going to the bell, 'beg that somebody will let her know how happy I should be to enquire after her health?' 'Your Ladyship is too good,' cried Mrs Maple, in great confusion, and preventing her from ringing; 'but Miss Ellis--I don't know why--is so fond of keeping her chamber, that there is no getting her out of it ... some how.--' 'Perhaps, then, she will permit me to go up stairs to her?' 'O no, not for the world! besides ... I believe she has walked out.' Lady Aurora now applied to Selina, who was scampering away upon a commission of search; when Mrs Maple, following her, privately insisted that she should bring back intelligence that Miss Ellis was taken suddenly ill. Selina was forced to comply, and Lady Aurora with serious concern, to return to Brighthelmstone ungratified. Mrs Maple was so much disconcerted by this incident, and so nettled at her own perplexed situation, that nothing saved Ellis from an abrupt dismission, but the representations of Mrs Fenn, that some fine work, which the young woman had just begun, would not look of a piece if finished by another hand. The next morning, the breakfast party was scarcely assembled, when Lord Melbury entered the parlour. He had ridden over, he said, to enquire after the health of Miss Ellis, in the name of his sister, who would do herself the pleasure to call upon her, as soon as she should be sufficiently recovered to receive a visit.