They were but momentary visions; I could
not bear of course to look steadily at them; they were
spectres that came and went with a wave of a hand, in a jet of
flame, or the shadow of an opening door; but they went, and
came; and I saw many things in Thorold's face that night
beside the manly lines of determination and spirit, the look
of thought and power, and the hover of light in his eye when
it turned to me. I don't know what Miss Cardigan saw; but
several times in the evening I heard her sigh; a thing very
unusual and notable with her. Again and again I heard it, a
soft long breath.
I gave it no heed at the time. My eyes and thoughts were fixed
on the other member of the party; and I was like one in a
dream. I walked in a dream; till we went into the other room
to tea, and I heard Miss Cardigan say, addressing her nephew,
—
"Sit there, Christian."
I was like one in a dream, or I should have known what this
meant. I did know, two minutes afterwards. But at the moment,
falling in with some of my thoughts, the word made me start
and look at Thorold.
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