"What," she asked, "will you not stay with me through the night, and
situated as I am?"
"It is impossible; even now I am waited for, and should have been some
hours on my way to an appointment which I must not break. It is not with
me as with you; I have obligations to others who depend on me, and who
might suffer injury were I to deceive them."
"But this night, Guy--there is little of it left, and I am sure you will
not be expected before the daylight. I feel a new terror when I think I
shall be left by all, and here, too, alone with the dead."
"You will not be alone, and if you were, Ellen, you have been thus
lonely for many months past, and should be now accustomed to it."
"Why, so I should, for it has been a fearful and a weary time, and I
went not to my bed one night without dreading that I should never behold
another day."
"Why, what had you to alarm you? you suffered no affright--no injury? I
had taken care that throughout the forest your cottage should be
respected.
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