She followed her with her eyes, to the door, with feelings of mingled hope and apprehension.
Down the splendid stairs, with their gilded balustrades, and carpets of the richest hue and texture, rushed the impetuous Ella. Through the hall--all marbles and guilding--and her hand was upon the lock of the library door. She was about to turn it, without reflection: but a sudden fear of intruding came over her--she paused and knocked.
"Who is there?" exclaimed an irritated voice from within; "go away--I can see no one just now."
"It is I, papa--Ella; pray let me come in."
He was standing in the middle of the lofty and magnificent apartment, which was adorned on every side with pictures in gorgeous frames; with busts, vases, and highly ornamented bookcases fitted with splendidly bound books--seldom, if ever, opened. His pale, wan, haggard face and degraded figure, formed a fearful contrast to the splendid scene around him, showing like a mockery of his misery. A small table, richly inlaid, stood beside him; in one hand he held a delicate cup of fine china; in the other, a small chemist's phial.
He started as she entered, and turned to her an angry and confused countenance, now rapidly suffused with a deep crimson flush; but, as if electrified by a sudden and horrid suspicion, she rushed forward, and impetuously seized his shaking arm.
The cup fell to the floor, and was broken to atoms; but he clenched the phial still faster in his trembling hand, as he angrily uttered the words:
"Oh! papa--papa!"--she had lost all other terror before that of horrible suspicion which had seized her--"what are you about? what is that?" stretching out her arms passionately, and endeavouring to wrench the phial from his fingers.
"What are you about? what do you mean?" he cried, endeavouring to extricate his hand. "Let me alone--leave me alone! what are you about? Be quiet, I say, or by...." And with the disengaged hand he tore her fingers from his, and thrust her violently away.
She staggered, and fell, but caught herself upon her knees, and flinging her arms round his, lifted up her earnest imploring face, crying, "Father--father! papa-papa! for my sake--for your sake--for all our sakes; oh, give it me! give it to me!"