And all at once the dank, cold atmosphere of the room
struck into his blood; he had a fit of trembling.
'Let us say good-bye for the present.'
Clara gave her hand silently. He touched it for the first time, and
could not but notice its delicacy; it was very warm, too, and moist.
Without speaking she went with him to the outer door. His footsteps
sounded along the stone staircase; Clara listened until the last
echo was silent.
She too had begun to feel the chilly air. Hastily putting on her
hat, she took up the lamp, glanced round the room to see that
nothing was left in disorder, and hastened up to the fifth storey.
In the middle room, through which she had to pass, her father and
Mr. Eagles were talking together. The latter gave her a
'good-evening,' respectful, almost as to a social superior. Within,
Amy and Annie were just going to bed. She sat with them in her usual
silence for a quarter of an hour, then, having ascertained that
Eagles was gone into his own chamber, went out to speak to her
father.
'My friend came,' she said. 'Do you suspect who it was?'
'Why, no, I can't guess, Clara.'
'Haven't you thought of Mr.
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