the day. That his wife would really desert him and go back to her father was too improbable, too dreadful an idea to even give form to. It did indeed creep like an icy, black shadow across his thoughts at intervals, but he put it angrily and positively away. A disgrace of that kind he felt it impossible to contemplate; besides, he loved Eleanor. Uneasy as life was with her, it would be intolerably empty without her.
Another day went anxiously by in watching, waiting, hoping, and fearing. He began to be angry with Burley. If he was unable to make his daughter do right, he thought he should have come to Aske and discussed the situation with him. The third day he could endure the suspense no longer. He wrote to Eleanor and sent a groom with the letter, directing him to wait for the answer. The letter was short, but very much to the purpose:
"My dear Wife,—Will you please to return home at your earliest convenience? If you will tell Simmonds when you will be ready, I will come with the carriage for you.
