'What have you been talking of together?' cried she impatiently, 'What is that man's opinion of my situation?--When may I have done with you all? Say! When may I sleep and be at rest?--When, when shall I be no longer the only person in this supine world, awake? He can sleep! Harleigh can sleep, while he yet lives!--He, and all of you! Death is not wanted to give repose to hearts of adamant!' Ellis, in a low voice, again applied to Mr Naird; but Elinor, watchful and suspicious, insisted upon hearing the subject of their discourse. Mr Naird, advancing to the bed-side, said, 'Is there any thing you wish, my good lady? Tell me if there is any thing we can do, that will procure you pleasure?' In vain Ellis endeavoured to give him an hint, that such a question might lead her to surmise her danger: the perceptions of Elinor were too quick to allow time for retraction or after precaution: the deepest damask flushed her pallid cheeks; her eyes became wildly dazzling, and she impetuously exclaimed, 'The time, then, is come! The struggle is over!--and I shall quaff no more this "nauseous draught of life[3]?"' [Footnote 3: Dryden.] She clasped her hands in an extacy, and vehemently added, 'When--when--tell me if possible, to a moment! when eternal stillness may quiet this throbbing breast?--when I may bid a final, glad adieu to this detestable world, to all its servile customs, and all its despicable inhabitants?--Why do you not speak?--Be brief, be brief!' Mr Naird, slowly approaching her, silently felt her pulse. 'Away with this burlesque dumb shew!' cried she, indignantly. 'No more of these farcical forms! Speak! When may your successor close these professional mockeries? fit only for weak patients who fear your sentence: to me, who boldly, eagerly demand it, speak reason and truth. When may I become as insensible as Harleigh?--Colder, death itself has not power to make me!' Again he felt her pulse, and, while her eyes, with fiery impatience, called for a prompt decision, hesitatingly pronounced, that if she had any thing to settle, she could not be too expeditious. Her countenance, her tone, her whole appearance, underwent, now, a sudden change; and she seemed as powerfully struck as if the decree which so earnestly she had sought, had been internally unexpected. She sustained herself, nevertheless, with firmness; thanked him, though in a low and husky voice, for his sincerity; and crossing her arms, and shutting her eyes, to obviate any distraction to her ideas by surrounding objects, delivered herself up to rapt meditation: becoming, in a moment, as calm, and nearly as gentle, as if a stranger by nature to violent passions, or even to strong feelings.