Was there something wistful in his voice, as he spoke thus, that caused Ella to glance up quickly into his face.
"Are you sure, uncle, that you are really as much stronger and better as you say you are?" she asked quickly, and with ill-concealed anxiety.
One of his old suspicious flashes came into his eyes, but it died away next moment.
"Am I sure, dearie? Why--why, what makes you ask that? You can see for yourself that I'm better. Yes, Jago's making another man of me--another man."
"Tell me the truth, uncle," she exclaimed passionately, "_why_ is it that you are driving me away? I am sure there is some special reason for it."
For a moment or two the Squire did not answer: his face was working with some inward excitement, his fingers, stroking the hand he held, trembled visibly.
"The house is getting uncanny, child," he said at last, "and I won't suffer my pretty one to be in it through the dark months. Before another winter comes round, perhaps the mystery will be solved; I hope it will be. Any way, we shall by that time have become more reconciled to it."
"No objection, my dear one. You have never made any to my will yet, and you must not begin now. Understand, child: I am sending you away for _the best_; the best for you and for me; and you must be guided by me implicitly, as you ever have been."
Ella sighed--and would not let him see her tears.
The yellow sunlight faded and vanished from the gloomy room, the old portraits on the walls shrank farther back into the twilight of their frames and were lost to view, the log on the hearth crackled and glowed more redly bright as darkness crept on apace, and still those two sat hand in hand, speaking a few words now and then, but mostly silent. At length the moment of departure came, the carriage was at the door, and Mrs. Carlyon entered, ready for travelling.
The Squire grasped the back of his chair with one hand; he was trembling in every limb. Mrs. Carlyon bade him goodbye quietly and without fuss. He kissed her, and held her hand.
"Gertrude," he said, "into your hands I commit my one earthly treasure. I charge you with the care of it. Never forget!"
Ella clung to him, and laid her head upon his breast. His rugged features worked convulsively. He lifted her face tenderly between his hands and kissed her several times.