But they were not
prepared for her invincible resolution to read the Instructions; for the
terrible questions which she had put to the lawyer; for her immovable
determination to fix all the circumstances in her mind, under which
Michael Vanstone's decision had been pronounced. There she stood at the
window, an unfathomable mystery to the sister who had never been parted
from her, to the governess who had trained her from a child. Miss Garth
remembered the dark doubts which had crossed her mind on the day when
she and Magdalen had met in the garden. Norah looked forward to the
coming time, with the first serious dread of it on her sister's account
which she had felt yet. Both had hitherto remained passive, in despair
of knowing what to do. Both were now silent, in despair of knowing what
to say.
Mr. Pendril patiently and kindly helped them, by returning to the
subject of their future plans for the second time.
"I am sorry to press any business matters on your attention," he said,
"when you are necessarily unfitted to deal with them. But I must take
my instructions back to London with me to night. With reference, in the
first place, to the disgraceful pecuniary offer, to which I have already
alluded.
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